HEROES  OF  CHIVALRY 

BY  LOUISE  MAITLAND 

^ 7 

STOKES  OF  HEROES 

EDJTED    BY 

HARLE5  RGHBEKF 


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STORIES    OF    HEROES 


EDITED   BY 

CHARLES  B.  GILBERT 

FORMERLY  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  80HOOL8,  ROCHESTER,  NEW  YORK 


HEROES  OF  CHIVALRY 


STORIES    OF    HEROES. 

Edited  by  CHARLES   B.    GILBERT, 

Formerly  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Rochester,  New  York. 

A  unique  series  of  Readers,  teaching  history  by  gathering  into 
separate  volumes  the  stories  of  men  representative  of  different 
stages  of  civilization,  advancing  from  the  lower  to  the  higher,  and 
in  an  order  carefully  adapted  to  the  child's  own  development. 

NOW  READY: 

HEROES  OF  MYTH.  By  Lillian  L.  Price,  Normal  and 
Training  School,  Newark,  N.J.,  and  Charles  B.  Gilbert, 
formerly  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Illus- 
trated.   50  cents. 

WANDERING  HEROES.  By  Lillian  L.  Price,  Normal  and 
Training  School,  Newark,  N.J.     Illustrated.     50  cents. 

HEROES  OF  CHIVALRY.  By  Louise  Maitland.  Illus- 
trated.    50  cents. 

IN  PREPARATION: 

HEROES    OF    CONQUEST     AND    EMPIRE.      By    Louise 

Maitland.     Illustrated. 
HEROES   OF   DISCOVERY  AND  SCIENCE.     By  Florence 

Jackson.     Illustrated. 
HEROES     OF    FREEDOM.      By  Helen    M.    Montgomery. 

Illustrated. 


SILVER,  BURDETT  &  COMPANY. 

NEW  YORK.  BOSTON.  CHICAGO. 


Q 

I 


I 


STORIES    OF    HEROES 


HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY 


BY 


LOUISE   MAITLAND 


ILLUSTRATED 


SILVER,   BURDETT   AND   COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  BOSTON  CHICAGO 


Copyright,  1903, 
By  SILVER,  BUEDETT  AND  COMPANY. 


Gift 

R.D  .LINGUIST 

EDUCATION  DEFT. 


GENERAL  PREFACE. 

Whether,  as  Carlyle  would  have  it,  history 
consists  properly  in  the  biographies  of  conspicu- 
ous men ;  or,  according  to  Freeman  and  his  school, 
in  the  development  of  peoples ;  or  in  the  evolution 
of  ideas,  as  Hegel  argues ;  is  a  question  for  philoso- 
phers. For  children  history  is  biography,  and  the 
biography  of  heroes.  For  them  types  must  be 
individualized  and  apotheosized.  History  must  be 
a  series  of  pictures  with  heroes  in  the  foreground. 

To  children  chronology  is  without  meaning. 
Whether  an  event  occurred  yesterday  or  a  thou- 
sand years  ago  makes  no  difference.  "  Long,  long 
ago "  and  u  once  upon  a  time "  are  quite  as  in- 
telligible and  more  effective  than  "  three  thousand 
years  ago "  or  "  in  the  year  56  B.C." 

Of  vastly  greater  importance  in  the  education 
of  children  than  chronological  sequence  is  psycho- 
logical sequence.  In  the  earlier  years  of  a  child's 
study  of  history,  events  should  be  presented  to 
him  in  the  order  in  which  he  is  able  to  apperceive 
them,  rather  than  in  the  order  of  occurrence.  This 
order  will  depend  upon  social  and  psychological 

vii 


5 75833 


viii  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

similarities.  For  example,  the  prehistoric  Greek 
is  more  nearly  allied  to  the  German  of  the  early 
Eoman  Empire  than  the  latter  to  his  contem- 
porary, the  imperial  Eoman ;  and  the  modern 
Bedouin  is  much  nearer  to  Abraham  than  to  the 
modern  Englishman. 

This  principle  of  psychological  order  has  been 
followed  in  the  present  series  of  historical  stories. 
Types  representing  similar  stages  of  civilization 
are  presented  in  conjunction,  without  regard  to 
chronology.  It  is  hoped  that  through  these 
stories,  thus  grouped,  children  may  be  interested 
at  the  proper  times  of  their  own  development  in 
the  various  phases  of  the  evolution  of  society  and 
in  history  itself,  and  that  the  interest  thus  awak- 
ened may  lead  to  a  better  study  of  history  than  is 
common  in  elementary  schools. 

The  stories  may  be  classified  as  follows :  — 

First,  myths.  These  are  the  beginnings  of  his- 
tory, and  should  be  presented  to  the  child  when 
his  imagination  is  vivid  enough  to  absorb  without 
a  shock  the  marvels  of  mythology  merely  as 
stories,  and  when  his  appetite  is  keen  for  all 
marvels. 

Second,  stories  of  nomadic  life.  These  repre- 
sent a  very  early  stage  of  history,  which  should 
be  presented  to  children  when  the  demand  for 
"  true  stories "  arises  and  when  the  "  tramp  in- 


GENERAL  PKEFACE.  IX 

stinct"  awakens.  The  stories  tell  of  wanderers  of 
various  times  and  different  types,  who  may  be 
roughly  classified  as  Pastoral  Nomads,  Religious 
Nomads,  and  Warlike  Nomads.  Their  common 
characteristic  is  the  absence  of  devotion  to  a  fixed 
home,  the  readiness  with  which  they  moved  from 
place  to  place  in  search  of  pasture  or  conquest^ 
or  to  satisfy  some  personal  craving.  The  differ- 
ences are  due  mainly  to  race  characteristics  and 
geographic  conditions. 

Third,  chivalry.  The  stories  of  this  period,  as 
well  as  the  myths  and  tales  of  nomads,  belong  to 
the  period  of  childhood  in  the  development  of 
civilized  society.  They  may  be  said  to  represent 
the  minority  of  society.  The  stories  are  drawn 
from  two  sources  chiefly,  the  legends  clustering 
about  King  Arthur  and  his  Round  Table  and 
those  relating  to  the  followers  of  Charlemagne, 
especially  as  given  in  the  "  Chanson  de  Roland." 

Fourth,  conquest  and  empire.  The  establish- 
ment of  great  personal  empires,  through  conquest 
followed  by  organization,  by  men  of  extraordinary 
power,  indicates  a  vastly  higher  order  of  civiliza- 
tion than  those  typified  by  the  nomad  and  the 
knight  errant.  It  may  be  said  to  represent  the 
young  manhood  of  society.  It  precedes  and  pre* 
pares  the  way  for  that  higher  development  mani- 
fested in  democratic  freedom. 


X  GENERAL  PREFACE. 

Fifth,  freedom.  This  stands  for  the  highest 
stage  of  social  evolution  yet  attained  by  man.  It 
is  the  full  manhood  of  society.  Its  heroes  are 
actuated  by  nobler  motives  than  those  of  any 
other  social  state.  Altruism  is  here  the  ruling 
motive,  growing  out  of  the  great  value  put  upon 
individual  liberty. 

Other  books  will  follow,  containing  tales  of  the 
heroes  who  in  various  ways  have  made  life  worth 
living  in  an  organized  and  highly  developed  society. 

C.  B.  GILBERT. 
Rochester,  N.Y. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Once,  long  ago,  brave  men  thought  that  the 
noblest  thing  to  do  was  to  go  about  and  fight  other 
brave  men  like  themselves,  simply  to  show  how 
well  they  could  fight,  and  to  win  the  praise  of  men 
and  women. 

The  men  who  thus  went  about  fighting  were  called 
Knights  Errant.  They  usually  traveled  on  horse- 
back, wore  heavy  armor  made  of  steel  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  blows  of  their  opponents,  and 
fought  with  swords  and  spears.  In  those  days  they 
had  no  guns,  for  gunpowder  had  not  been  invented. 
They  fought  for  all  sorts  of  reasons,  but  the  most 
common  one  was  "  for  their  ladies'  sake,"  each 
knight  claiming  that  his  lady-love  was  the  fairest, 
the  noblest,  and  the  best  in  the  world. 

They  all  served  some  king,  and  when  not  wan- 
dering in  search  of  a  foe,  they  came  back  to  his 
court.  ■  At  these  courts  u  tournaments  "  were  often 
held,  at  which  the  knights  fought  one  another  for 
their  honor,  while  the  king  and  queen  and  the  ladies 
of  the  court  looked  on  and  applauded  the  victors. 
The  most  famous  of  these  kings  were  Arthur,  king 
of  the  Britons,  and  Charlemagne,  king  of  the 
French. 

xi 


xii  INTRODUCTION. 

Marvelous  and  impossible  stories  were  told  of 
the  wonderful  deeds  of  these  knights,  and  some  of 
them,  like  the  stories  of  the  mythical  heroes,  have 
been  put  into  beautiful  poems.  Some  of  these 
stories  are  told  in  this  book. 


NOTE. 

The  stories  in  this  book  have  been  drawn,  in  the  main, 
from  "  Le  Roman  de  Merlin,"  edited  by  Sommer ;  the 
"  Morte  D' Arthur  "  of  Sir  Thomas  Malory,  edited  by  Som- 
mer ;  and  the  "  High  History  of  the  Holy  Grail,"  trans- 
lated by  Sebastian  Evans.  Other  sources  also  have  been 
consulted.  In  some  instances  the  original  wording  has 
been  retained,  in  some  it  has  been  condensed,  and  in  some 
changed  altogether. 


CONTENTS. 

The  Story  of  Arthur: 

1.  How  Arthur  won  his  Crown 

2.  The  Battle  of  Carleon 

3.  The  Famous  Fight  at  Bedingran 

4.  The  Romans  and  the  Saxons  send  Ambassadors 

5.  How  Arthur  won  his  Wife    .... 

6.  The  Betrothal  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 

7.  King  Arthur  fights  with  King  Rions    . 

8.  Arthur  wins  Friends 

9.  The  Marriage  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 

10.  The  Fellowship  of  the  Round  Table    . 

11.  Arthur  gets  his  Sword,  Excalibur 

12.  Sir  Lancelot  and  Sir  Lionel  seek  Adventures 

13.  Sir  Lancelot  fights'  Sir  Turquin    . 

14.  Sir  Fair -hands 


3 

10 
16 

28 
31 
40 
44 
47 
55 
62 
66 
70 
78 
83 


II.    The  Quest  of  the  Holy  Grail: 

1.  The  Boyhood  of  Sir  Perceval        ....  93 

2.  The  Visions  of  Dindrane  and  Perceval        .        .  99 

3.  King  Arthur  rides  to  the  Forest  Adventurous      .  106 

4.  The  Black  Rider 109 

5.  The  Bald  Damsel 116 

6.  Dindrane  and  Sir  Perceval  at  the  Palace  of  the 

King 120 

7.  The  Seat  Perilous 124 


xvi  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

8.  The  Knights  take  Vows  to  seek  the  Grail    .        .  129 

9.  The  Vision  of  Sir  Gawain 132 

10.  Sir   Perceval   has  an    Adventure  with   a   Good 

Knight 139 

11.  Sir  Perceval  rescues  Dindrane      ....  143 

12.  The  Castle  of  the  Queen  of  the  Maidens     .        .  149 

13.  How  Sir  Perceval  saw  the  King  of  Mortal  Castle 

again          ...        c        ...        .  154 

14.  Sir  Lancelot  and  Sir  Galahad       ....  165 

15.  The  Vision  of  Sir  Lancelot  .....  172 

16.  Sir  Galahad,  Sir  Perceval,  Sir  Bors,  and  Din- 

drane            175 

17.  Dindrane  gives  her  Life  for  a  Lady      .        .         .  184 

18.  The  Finding  of  the  Grail      .....  188 

III.    The  Story  of  Roland  : 

1.  Roland's  Youth 199 

2.  How  Roland  won  the  Love  of  the  Emperor         .  202 

3.  How  Roland  won  his  Knighthood        .        .        .  206 

4.  Roland  wins  a  Friend 214 

5.  How  Fair  France  lost  Roland      ....  220 


FULL-PAGE   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

■  They  ran  at  each  other  with  drawn  swords  "        .       Frontisp 


iecc 


PAGE 


Ruins  of  King  Arthur's  Castle  in  Wales         ....  11 

"  But  Arthur  raised  her " 41 

The  Vigil          ..........  53 

"  Sir  Lancelot  lay  under  the  apple  tree,  fast  asleep  "  .73 

"  Perceval  saw  a  maiden  making  moan  over  a  dead  knight "  103 

Sir  Galahad 127 

The  Dream  of  Sir  Lancelot 167 

A  Knight  of  the  Round  Table 179 

"  Sir  Galahad  kneeled  before  the  table,  praying  "           .        .  193 

"  Roland  hurled  himself  upon  Eaumont "  211 

Roland's  Tower 229 


xvii 


I. 

THE  STORY  OF  ARTHUR. 


;.    THE    STORY    OF    ARTHUR. 


i.   HOW  ARTHUR  WON  HIS   CROWN. 

KING  UTHER  PENDRAGON1  had  ruled 
over  Britain  for  many  years  and  waged 
many  wars  with  his  fierce  enemies,  but  now  his 
strength  was  failing.  Some  years  before  he  fell 
grievously  sick,  he  had  married  the  Lady  Igraine. 
To  them  had  been  born  a  little  son,  whom  they 
called  Arthur. 

Very  soon  after  the  boy  was  born  he  had  been 
given  into  the  hands  of  Merlin  to  bring  up.  Now 
Merlin  was  a  very  wise  man  and  the  chief  coun- 
cilor of  King  Uther  Pendragon.  He  put  Arthur 
in  the  care  of  a  knight  of  high  degree  named 
Sir  Ector.2  Sir  Ector  most  gladly  received  the 
young  prince  into  his  castle,  although  he  knew 
not  who  he  was.  In  the  household  of  Sir-  Ector 
Arthur  was  trained  up  to  all  honorable  deeds  such 
as  become  a  good  knight.    When  Uther  Pendragon 

1  Uther  Pendragon  =  U'-ther  Pen'-dra-gon.  2  Ector  =  Ek'-tpr. 

3 


4  HEROES   OF   CHIVALKY. 

fell  sick,  his  enemies  quickly  took  the  opportunity 
to  invade  his  lands  and  kill  his  people.  His 
barons  and  knights  knew  not  what  to  do,  and  in 
their  distress  they  sent  for  Merlin. 

"  Sir,"  said  Merlin  to  the  king,  "  you  must  get 
to  the  field,  even  if  it  be  in  a  horse-litter;  for 
never  will  your  enemies  be  defeated  unless  you 
yourself  are  present.  But  if  you  do  as  I  say,  you 
shall  have  a  great  victory." 

Then  the  king  had  himself  carried  in  a  litter, 
and  led  a  great  host  against  his  enemies,  and  King 
Uther  Pendragon's  host  met  the  host  from  the  north 
and  did  mighty  deeds.  But  of  all  the  knights 
Sir  Ulphius1  and  Sir  Brastias2  were  the  great- 
est and  slew  many,  and  the  rest  they  put  to  flight. 
Then  the  king  returned  to  London  and  made  a 
noble  feast. 

After  a  little  while  the  king  became  sick  unto 
death,  and  he  lay  for  three  days  and  nights  quite 
speechless.  His  people  were  much  troubled,  and 
again  they  asked  counsel  of  the  wise  Merlin. 

He  said  to  them :  "  There  is  no  remedy  in  this 
matter,  but  that  God's  will  be  done.  But  look 
you  that  all  the  king's  barons  be  before  him  to- 
morrow, and  God  and  I  shall  make  him  speak." 

1  Ulphius  =  Ul'-fi-as.  2  Brastias  =  Bras'-ti-as. 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  5 

On  the  following  day  Merlin  and  the  chief 
barons  went  in  nnto  the  king,  and  Merlin  said, 
"  Sire,  shall  your  son  Arthur  be  king  after  you  ?  " 

Then  Uther  Pendragon  turned  and  said  in  the 
hearing  of  them  all,  "I  give  him  God's  blessing 
and  mine,  and  bid  him  to  pray  for  my  soul,  and 
to  claim  the  crown."  After  saying  this  he  died. 
Then  they  made  a  royal  funeral  for  the  king,  and 
Queen  Igraine  grieved  very  sorely. 

After  this  the  kingdom  was  in  great  peril,  for 
every  man  thought  of  himself  alone,  and  they  that 
were  powerful  gathered  all  their  men  together, 
each  hoping  to  be  chosen  king. 

By  the  advice  of  Merlin,  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury1  summoned  all  the  lords  of  the  king- 
dom and  all  the  men  at  arms  to  assemble  in  Lon- 
don at  Christmas.  He  hoped  that  some  miracle 
would  happen  then  which  would  show  to  all  the 
people  who  should  be  the  rightful  king  of  Britain. 

The  archbishop  did  all  that  Merlin  had  advised, 
and  in  the  great  church  in  London  all  the  lords 
and  barons  assembled  to  pray.  After  their  prayers 
were  over,  they  found  in  the  churchyard  a  great 
stone  which  they  had  not  seen  when  they  went  in, 
and  in  the  stone  was  standing  a  sword,  sticking  in 

1  Canterbury  =  Kan'-ter-ber-i. 


6  HEEOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

by  the  point.  On  it  was  written  in  letters  of  gold, 
"  Whosoever  pulleth  this  sword  out  of  this  stone  is 
the  rightful  king  of  Britain.' ' 

Such  as  longed  and  hoped  to  be  king  were  quick 
to  try  to  draw  out  the  sword,  but  not  one  could 
make  it  stir.  Then  the  archbishop  commanded  that 
ten  knights  should  watch  the  sword,  till  he  should 
come  who  was  the  rightful  king.  And  so  it  was 
done,  and  a  cry  went  up  over  all  the  land  that  all 
men  should  try  to  win  the  sword. 

After  this,  in  order  that  all  the  people  might  be 
kept  together  till  the  king  came,  a  great  tourna- 
ment was  made  on  New  Year's  Day,  and  the 
knights  and  barons  tried  their  skill  in  joust  and 
tourney. 

Now  it  happened  that  many  of  the  lands  owned 
by  Sir  Ector  lay  near  London,  so  on  New  Year's 
Day  he  rode  into  the  city  with  Arthur,  and  his  son 
Sir  Kay.1  As  these  three  rode  together  Sir  Kay 
found  that  he  had  left  his  sword  behind  at  his 
father's  lodging,  and  he  asked  Arthur  to  ride 
back  and  bring  it. 

"That  I  shall  willingly  do,"  said  Arthur,  and 
he  rode  back  as  fast  as  he  could  after  the  sword. 
When  he  got  to  the  house    he  found  it  empty. 

i  Kay  =  Ka. 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  7 

for  every  one  had  gone  forth  to  see  the  joust- 
ing, and  he  could  nowhere  find  the  sword.  At 
this  Arthur  was  angry,  and  he  said  to  himself, 
"My  brother,  Sir  Kay,  must  have  a  sword  this 
day,"  and  he  rode  off  to  the  churchyard. 

When  he  came  there,  he  saw  that  the  ten  knights 
were  also  gone  to  the  jousting.  Then  he  took  hold 
of  the  sword  by  the  handle,  and  "lightly  and 
fiercely"  he  pulled  it  out  of  the  stone,  and  rode 
away  with  it  to  his  brother. 

Sir  Kay  knew  at  once  what  sword  this  was,  and 
took  it  to  his  father,  saying,  "  Lo !  here  is  the 
sword  of  the  stone;  I  must  be  the  king  of  this 
land." 

When  Sir  Ector  saw  the  sword,  he  rode  back 
with  Arthur  and  his  son  to  the  churchyard.  There 
he  made  Sir  Kay  swear  upon  a  book  how  he  came 
by  the  sword. 

He  said  to  his  father,  "  Sir,  my  brother  Arthur 
brought  it  to  me." 

"  How  did  you  get  the  sword  ?  "  said  Sir  Ector 
to  Arthur;  and  Arthur  told  him. 

Then  said  Sir  Ector :  "I  understand  !  You  are 
the  king  of  this  land." 

"  Wherefore  ?  "  said  Arthur. 

"It  is  the  will  of    God,"  answered   Sir   Ector. 


8  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

"  Now  show  me  if  you  can  put  back  the  sword,  and 
draw  it  out  again." 

So  Arthur  put  back  the  sword  as  it  had  been  in 
the  stone.  Then  Sir  Ector  first  made  Sir  Kay  try 
to  draw  it  out,  but  he  could  in  no  way  make  it 
stir ;  but  Arthur  pulled  it  out  again  easily.  Then 
Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Kay  kneeled  down  before 
Arthur. 

"Alas,"  said  Arthur,  "iny  own  dear  father  and 
brother,  why  do  you  kneel  to  me  ?  " 

Then  Sir  Ector  told  him  that  he  was  no  son  of 
his,  but  that  Merlin  had  brought  him  to  them  that 
he  might  be  trained.  Arthur  was  most  sorrowful 
when  he  heard  that  Sir  Ector  was  not  his  father. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Ector,  u  will  you  be  my  good  and 
gracious  lord  when  you  are  king  ?  " 

"  I  were  much  to  blame,"  said  Arthur,  "  if  I  did 
otherwise,  for  to  you  and  your  good  lady  I  owe 
much ;  for  even  as  if  I  were  her  own  son,  has  she 
fostered  me  and  kept  me.  If  indeed  it  be  God's 
will  that  I  be  king,  whatever  you  shall  ask  of  me, 
God  forbid  that  I  should  fail  you." 

"Sir,"  answered  Sir  Ector,  "I  ask  no  more  of 
you  but  only  this,  that  you  make  Sir  Kay  your 
seneschal." 

"  That  will  I  do  most  gladly,"  said  Arthur, "  and 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  9 

more,  for  none  but  he  shall  have  that  office  as  long 
as  he  and  I  do  live." 

Then  they  three  went  to  the  archbishop  and 
told  him  how  the  sword  had  been  won  and  by 
whom.  On  the  twelfth  day  all  the  barons  came 
again  together  to  try  the  sword,  but  none  could 
draw  it  from  the  stone  but  Arthur.  At  this  all  the 
lords  were  very  angry.  u  It  would  indeed  be  shame 
to  all  this  land,"  they  said,  "  to  be  ruled  by  a  lad 
not  high-born."  No  agreement  could  be  made 
with  them,  and  the  matter  was  put  off  till  the 
Feast  of  Pentecost. 

When  the  Feast  of  Pentecost  had  come,  all  men 
who  would  tried  to  draw  out  the  sword ;  but  none 
were  able,  only  Arthur,  and  he  pulled  it  lightly  out 
in  the  sight  of  all  the  lords  and  the  commons. 
Therefore  all  the  commons  cried  out :  "  We  will 
have  Arthur  for  our  king.  We  will  have  no  more 
delays;  it  is  God's  will  that  he  should  have  the 
crown,  and  whoso  is  any  more  against  it,  we  will 
slay  him."  Then  they  all  kneeled  down  and 
prayed  Arthur  to  forgive  them  for  having  opposed 
him  so  long. 

Arthur  forgave  them  willingly,  and  taking  the 
sword  in  both  his  hands,  he  brought  it  to  the  altar 
where  the  archbishop  was,  in  order  that  he  might 


10  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

receive  his  blessing.  And  then  Arthur  received 
knighthood  at  the  hands  of  the  highest  man 
present. 

Splendid  were  the  preparations  for  his  coronation. 
And  when  he  had  been  solemnly  crowned,  Arthur 
swore  to  the  lords  and  barons  that  he  would  be 
their  true  king  and  that  he  would  stand  on  the 
side  of  justice  all  his  days.  And  he  commanded 
those  lords  and  barons  who  had  held  aloof  to  come 
and  do  him  homage. 


2.   THE  BATTLE   OF   CARLEON. 

After  these  events  King  Arthur  went  into  Wales 
and  prepared  a  great  feast,  and  he  sent  word 
through  all  the  land  that  the  feast  would  be  held, 
after  he  had  been  crowned  again,  in  the  city  of 
Carleon.1 

There  were  present  in  answer  to  the  king's 
summons  King  Lot  of  Lothian2  and  Orkney,3  the 
husband  of  King  Arthur's  sister,  with  five  hundred 
knights ;  King  Urience 4  of  Gore  with  four  hundred ; 
King  Neutres5  of  Garloth6  with  seven  hundred; 

1  Carleon  =  Kar'-le-on.  4  Urience  =  LT/-ri-ens. 

2  Lothian  =  Lo'-thi-an.  5  Xeutres  =  Nu'-tr. 

8  Orkney  =  Ork'-ni.  6  Garloth  =  Gar'-loth. 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR.  13 

the  king  of  Scotland  with  six  hundred ;  the  king 
of  Carados 1  with  five  hundred ;  and  the  King  of  an 
Hundred  Knights.  There  were  in  all,  knights  and 
soldiers,  about  thirty  thousand  men.  A  very 
gallant  array  they  made,  as  they  marched  into 
Carleon  with  horses  prancing  and  banners  waving. 

King  Arthur  was  very  glad  of  their  coming, 
because  he  thought  that  they  had  come  for  love  of 
him,  and  he  sent  rich  presents  to  both  kings  and 
knights.  But  the  haughty  men  only  flouted  his 
messengers,  and  said  to  them :  "  We  will  have 
none  of  the  gifts  of  a  beardless  boy  of  low  birth. 
Shame  would  it  be  to  us,  and  to  this  great  land,  to 
have  such  a  boy  to  rule  over  us." 

The  messengers  returned  again  to  Arthur  with 
the  gifts,  and  told  him  what  those  proud  lords  had 
said.  For  this  cause,  by  the  advice  of  Merlin  and 
such  barons  as  were  true  to  him,  Arthur  betook 
himself  to  a  strong  and  safe  tower  outside  the 
walls  of  the  city.  There  went  with  him  five  hun- 
dred faithful  knights.  The  unruly  lords  at  once 
laid  siege  to  Arthur's  stronghold,  but  he  was  well 
supplied  with  food,  and  so  able  to  withstand  them. 

When  about  fifteen  days  had  passed,  Merlin 
entered  the  city  of  Carleon,  to  the  great  joy  of  the 

1  Carados  =  Kar'-Qrdos. 


14  HEROES   OF   CHIVALEY. 

rebellious  kings.  They  asked  him,  saying,  "  Why 
is  this  beardless  boy  made  king  ?  " 

"  Sirs,  I  will  tell  you ;  because  he  is  the  son  of 
the  great  Uther  Pendragon,  and  I  say  he  shall  be 
king  and  overcome  all  his  enemies.  Before  he  dies 
he  shall  have  under  his  rule  Britain,  north  and 
south,  Wales,  Scotland,  and  many  other  realms/ ' 

Some  of  the  kings  were  astounded  at  what 
Merlin  told  them  and  would  have  joined  with  King 
Arthur ;  but  King  Lot  of  Orkney  and  some  others 
laughed  Merlin  to  scorn  and  called  him  a  wizard, 
and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  him.  But 
before  he  left  them,  they  agreed  with  Merlin  that 
Arthur  should  come  out  and  speak  to  them  in  safety. 

Then  Merlin  went  to  King  Arthur  and  told  him 
what  he  had  arranged.  "  Come  out  boldly,"  he 
said  to  the  king,  "  and  do  not  spare  them,  but 
answer  them  as  befits  their  king  and  chieftain. 
In  the  end  you  shall  overcome  them  all,  whether 
they  will  or  not." 

Then  King  Arthur  came  out  of  his  tower. 
Underneath  his  robes  he  wore  a  coat  of  double 
mail,  strong  and  sure.  With  him  went  the  arch- 
bishop, Sir  Bondwine,1  Sir  Kay  the  Seneschal, 
and  Sir  Brastias. 

1  Bondwine  =  Bond'-wln. 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  15 

When  they  met  the  rebel  kings,  there  were  but 
.few  words  of  kindness  spoken.  They  greeted  each 
other  proudly.  King  Arthur  said  he  wonld  make 
them  bow  to  him  if  he  lived,  and  they  were  very 
angry  and  left  him  in  a  rage.  So  Arthur  returned 
to  his  tower  and  all  his  armed  men  with  him. 

Merlin  went  again  to  the  rebels  and  asked  them 
what  they  would  do  now.  "You  had  better  cease 
your  fighting,  for  if  you  were  ten  times  the  num- 
ber, you  would  not  prevail,"  said  he. 

Then  answered  King  Lot,  "  Shall  we  be  shamed 
by  a  reader  of  dreams  ?  "  With  this  Merlin  van- 
ished suddenly  from  them  and  came  to  King 
Arthur  and  told  him  to  set  on  them  fiercely. 

And  Arthur  was  comforted,  for  three  hundred 
of  the  most  valiant  men  among  the  rebel  kings 
came  to  him  to  be  his  men.  Merlin  said  to  the 
king,  "Fight  not  with  the  sword  that  brought 
you  the  kingdom  till  you  see  that  you  are 
getting  the  worse,  but  then  draw  it  out  and  do 
your  uttermost." 

Then  King  Arthur  and  all  his  knights  went  forth 
quickly  and  set  on  his  enemies  while  they  were  yet 
in  their  tents.  Sir  Bondwine,  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir 
Brastias  slew  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left  in 
mighty   fashion.      But    always    King   Arthur    on 


16  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

horseback  laid  about  him  with  his  sword,  and  did 
wondrous  deeds  that  day.  Many  rejoiced  in  his 
skill  and  great  courage. 

King  Lot  and  King  Carados  went  round  with 
their  men  and  set  on  Arthur  in  the  rear  fiercely ; 
but  Arthur  and  his  knights  slew  all  they  met,  be- 
hind and  before.  Arthur  was  ever  found  in  the 
hardest  press  of  the  battle  till  his  horse  was  killed 
under  him.  When  King  Lot  saw  this  he  fell  on 
Arthur  and  smote  him  down,  but  four  of  Arthur's 
knights  raised  him  and  set  him  on  a  horse  again. 

Then  King  Arthur,  with  a  mighty  shout,, drew 
his  shining  sword.  It  flashed  so  brightly  in  the 
faces  of  his  enemies  that  it  gave  a  light  as  of 
thirty  torches,  and  with  it  he  slew  many  men.  At 
this  all  the  commons  of  Carleon  joined  themselves 
with  Arthur,  and,  armed  with  clubs  and  staves,  they 
killed  many  of  his  enemies.  The  rebel  kings  held 
together  with  their  knights  that  remained  alive, 
and  fled  from  the  field. 


3.    THE  FAMOUS   FIGHT  AT  BEDINGRAN. 

King  Arthur  returned  to  London  and  called  a 
great  council  of  his  knights.     But  they  did  not 


THE   STOEY   OF  ARTHUR.  17 

know  what  should  be  done,  and  so  Arthur  said 
to  them,  "Fair  sirs,  will  ye  hear  Merlin?"  and 
they  all  consented  gladly.  Now  Merlin  knew 
that  all  the  rebels  would  quickly  gather  together 
with  all  their  men  at  arms  to  avenge  themselves 
on  Arthur. 

When  he  had  been  called  to  the  council,  Merlin 
addressed  them,  saying,  "  King  Arthur  and  all  ye 
mighty  barons,  I  warn  you  all  that  your  enemies 
are  some  of  the  most  renowned  knights  alive. 
Already,  in  their  preparations,  they  have  won  over 
to  them  four  more  kings  and  a  great  and  mighty 
duke.  If  King  Arthur  had  more  chivalry  around 
him,  he  might  very  well  fight  them  in  his  own  realm, 
but  now  if  he  fights,  he  will  surely  be  overcome. 
Beyond  the  seas  are  two  brothers,  good  knights 
both,  who  before  time  lived  in  Britain.  One  is 
called  King  Ban  of  Benoic1  and  the  other  King 
Bors 2  of  Gaul.  They  wage  war  with  King  Claudas 
of  the  Desert,  who  would  dispossess  them  of  their 
lands.  Let  our  king  send  two  trusty  knights  to 
bear  a  message  to  them,  saying,  ?  Come  over  and 
help  us,  and  we  will  return  and  fight  your  enemies.' 
What  say  you  to  my  words  ?  " 

"  It  is  well  thought  of,"  said  they  all ;  and  in 

1  Benoic  =  Be-no'-ik.  2  Bors  =  Bors. 

0 


18  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

great  haste  Sir  Ulphius  and  Sir  Brastias  were  made 
the  messengers. 

These  two  brave  knights  succeeded  in  their  mis- 
sion and  brought  back  with  them  King  Ban  and 
King  Bors.  King  Arthur  made  very  magnificent 
preparations  to  meet  them.  After  a  great  feast 
and  a  tournament  the  king  held  a  council  in  his 
palace,  and  it  was  determined  what  they  should 
do. 

King  Arthur  should  send  orders  to  all  parts  of 
his  kingdom,  that  those  who  of  right  were  his  men 
should  assemble  in  the  Forest  of  Bedingran.1  All 
the  barons  and  lords  and  knights  should  bring 
with  them  their  attendant  knights  and  men  at 
arms,  mounted  and  unmounted.  Merlin  should 
go  over  into  Little  Britain,  there  to  raise  an  army 
of  the  men  of  King  Ban  and  King  Bors,  and  to 
confer  with  their  seneschals  as  to  the  safety  of 
their  queens  and  their  lands  while  their  lords  re- 
mained with  Arthur. 

Then  Merlin,  with  the  seal  ring  of  King  Ban, 
went  to  the  principal  cities  of  King  Ban  and  King 
Bors,  and  he  collected  from  all  the  country  round 
ten  thousand  chosen  men ;  and  when  all  was  ready, 
he  departed  with  many  rich    presents   from   the 

1  Bedingran  =  Bed'-ing-ran. 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  19 

queens.  Then  Merlin  came  to  the  seashore  and 
set  sail  with  the  army  for  Britain. 

While  Merlin  was  away  King  Arthur  busied 
himself,  with  the  aid  of  his  knights  and  barons, 
in  raising  a  great  army.  When  he  had  gotten 
more  than  ten  thousand  men  and  horses,  he  sent 
them  to  the  Forest  of  Bedingran.  Then  he  set 
guards  at  all  the  passes  and  on  all  the  highways. 

The  eleven  kings  had  been  very  angry  at  their 
defeat  at  Carleon,  and  were  more  determined  than 
ever  to  resist  King  Arthur.  They  had  met  in 
solemn  conclave,  and  they  and  all  their  knights 
and  men  at  arms  had  sworn  a  solemn  oath  that 
they  would  destroy  King  Arthur  and  his  knights, 
and  drive  them  from  the  kingdom. 

To  this  end  they  had  drawn  up  an  immense 
army  near  the  great  Forest  of  Bedingran.  Their 
army  numbered  in  all  forty  thousand  men,  and 
they  felt  very  sure  of  their  success  over  the 
"  young,  beardless  boy."  They  knew  that  Arthur 
was  preparing  to  meet  them,  and  they  sent  spies 
throughout  the  land,  trying  to  find  out  where  his 
army  was. 

When  Merlin  arrived  with  the  army  he  had 
brought,  Sir  Ulphius  said  to  him,  "  If  the  rebel 
kings  lay  hold  on  you,  they  will  slay  you,  for  they 


20  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

have  sworn  to  destroy  you  for  giving  aid  to  King 
Arthur." 

"  They  do  rightly,"  said  Merlin  ;  "  for  they  have 
no  greater  enemy  than  I  am,  nor  one  who  will  do 
them  more  harm  than  I,  while  they  fight  against 
their  rightful  overlord.  Great  caution  must  we 
use  in  fighting  them.  They  lie  near  by  the  forest, 
forty  thousand  strong,  and  not  one  man  can  we 
spare  of  our  small  army." 

Then  Merlin  came  to  King  Arthur  and  said  : 
"  Know,  sire,  because  you  are  a  very  young  man, 
and  you  have  a  very  great  kingdom  to  rule  over, 
and  your  barons  help  you  scarcely  at  all,  save 
such  as  loved  King  Uther  Pendragon,  the  rest  of 
the  people  would  soon  turn  from  you,  were  it  not 
for  the  royal  state  and  magnificence  that  you 
maintain  and  the  many  gifts  you  give  to  them. 
Here,  under  this  spot  where  you  stand,  lies  buried 
a  very  great  treasure,  which  you  will  do  wisely  to 
guard  well,  till  such  time  as  you  can  bring  it  away 
safely." 

Soon  after  this  King  Arthur  and  his  friends 
were  sitting  near  a  beautiful  clear  fountain,  when 
Merlin  came  to  them  and  said  :  "  Sirs,  it  is  time 
to  fall  upon  your  enemies.  But  the  host  must 
move  secretly  by  night  and  make  the  first  attack 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  21 

two  hours  before  the  dawn.  Let  us  order  things 
in  such  a  fashion  that  not  a  soul  may  know  before- 
hand any  of  our  plans.  They  are  a  mighty  host 
of  men,  and  we  are  but  a  handful." 

Then,  with  beating  heart,  King  Arthur  set  his 
host  in  battle  array.  They  started  soon  after 
sundown.  The  night  was  clear,  with  a  bright 
moon,  and  very  still,  but  bitter  cold,  for  it  was  the 
month  of  January.  Under  the  shadow  of  the  deep 
forest  they  stole  silently  into  the  positions  the  king 
had  designed  for  them. 

The  order  of  the  battle  was  that  Arthur's  divi- 
sion should  lead  the  attack  and  fall  on  the  enemy 
while  they  were  yet  in  their  tents.  After  they  had 
fought  till  they  were  weary,  reinforcements  were 
to  come  up  under  the  brothers,  King  Ban  and 
King  Bors,  and  finish  the  battle  if  possible,  with- 
out leaving  their  enemies  time  to  rally. 

The  army  of  the  eleven  rebel  kings  was  twice 
as  large  as  King  Arthur's,  but  they  were  far  from 
their  homes.  They  did  not  yet  know  where  King 
Arthur  was,  and  they  had  not  the  least  idea 
that  he  was  so  near  to  them.  Yet  they  did  not 
even  set  guards  or  sentries,  so  careless  and  confi- 
dent had  their  great  number  made  them. 

The  eleven  kings  all  slept  together  in  one  great 


22  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

tent.  King  Lot  of  Orkney  had  a  very  terrible 
dream,  so  that  he  cried  out  in  his  sleep.  He 
dreamed  that  there  came  a  terrible  wind  that  blew 
down  all  the  houses  and  steeples.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  fearful  thunder  and  lightning.  After 
this  came  a  great  flood  that  washed  everything 
away.  He  awoke  his  fellows  in  the  tent,  and 
asked  them  what  they  thought  of  his  dream. 
They  were  all  filled  with  fear  and  trembling,  and 
they  took  counsel  together  and  armed  themselves ; 
for  they  said,  "  There  is  coming  a  great  and  mar- 
velous battle,  and  we  must  be  ready." 

Now  Merlin,  who  knew  so  many  things,  knew 
about  this  dream,  so  he  hastened  the  coming  of 
Arthur's  men.  Long  before  the  rebel  kings  could 
warn  their  host,  Arthur's  men  were  upon  them. 
It  was  dark,  for  the  moon  had  set ;  and  there  rose 
a  great  cry  in  the  rebel  host  of :  "  Treason !  Trea- 
son !     Some  traitor  has  betrayed  us." 

Then  there  was  rushing  to  and  fro,  men  in  their 
haste  seizing  what  arms  they  could  lay  hands  on. 
Horses  galloped  here  and  there,  dashing  about  in 
the  wildest  fear,  and  trampling  down  their  masters. 
Then  came  a  great  wind  which  blew  down  the 
tents,  and  men  got  entangled  in  their  sheets  and 
in  the  tents ;  and  a   dense   fog   came  stealing  up 


THE   STORY   OE   ARTHUR.  23 

which  hid  friend  from  friend,  so  that  all  were 
foes  together.  Some,  in  the  fright  and  darkness, 
thought  that  a  host  of  giants  had  fallen  on  them, 
and  ran  for  their  lives,  while  others  wandered 
about,  half  crazy  with  fear,  moaning  and  crying, 
and  wringing  their  hands.  And  Arthur's  men 
fell  on  all  they  found,  and  killed  them  right  and 
left. 

Now  the  rebel  kings  had  left  their  tent  and 
stationed  themselves  in  the  open  field.  They 
commanded  that  a  trumpeter  should  sound  a  great 
blast,  high  and  clear,  so  that  their  frightened  host 
might  rally  to  their  standards  outside  the  camp. 
When  such  as  could  clear  themselves  finally  made 
their  way  to  the  place  where  the  rebel  kings  stood, 
they  found  that  of  all  the  great  host  only  twenty 
thousand  had  been  able  to  come  together. 

By  this  time  the  morning  light  had  come,  and 
King  Arthur  had  drawn  off  his  men.  He  and  Sir 
Kay  and  Merlin  debated  what  was  best  to  do. 
Then  Merlin  said :  "  Sire,  go  round  with  Sir 
Ulphius  and  pass  the .  river  by  a  ford  that  lies 
lower  down,  and  fall  on  the  front  of  the  twenty 
thousand  men  remaining  to  them.  I  will  go  to 
King  Ban  and  King  Bors,  and  bring  them  through 
the  forest  to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear.     They 


24  HEEOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

will  be  sore  afraid  when  they  see  your  allies  behind 
them  and  you  and  your  men  in  front,  and  they 
will  make  but  a  poor  defense  against  you." 

Then  King  Arthur  rode  off  with  his  own  division 
to  cross  the  little  river,  on  the  other  side  of  which 
the  rebels  had  re-formed  their  army.  When  they 
saw  the  king,  at  the  head  of  his  men,  passing  the 
river  with  horses  prancing  and  banners  waving, 
they  knew  not  what  to  think.  "  Can  such  a  small 
host  have  done  us  so  much  hurt  ? "  they  cried. 
"  They  are  only  a  few  thousand,  and  we  are  still 
twenty  thousand."  And  they  were  angry  and 
ashamed. 

They  held  themselves  in  such  close  array  that 
when  Arthur  came  up,  he  could  not  penetrate  their 
ranks,  on  this  side  or  on  that.  Soon  Sir  Ulphius 
came  to  join  Arthur,  and  then  Sir  Bretel,1  and 
they  made  such  an  onslaught  that  their  enemies 
had  much  to  do  to  defend  themselves.  Then  they 
all  fell  to  fighting  furiously,  man  with  man,  and 
fierce  were  the  attacks  on  both  sides.  Men  came 
together  and  did  such  deeds  that  their  companions 
marveled. 

The  horse  of  Sir  Ulphius  was  killed  under  him, 
and  he  would  have  been  trodden  in  the  press  had 

1  Bretel  =  Bre'-tel. 


.THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  25 

not  Sir  Bretel  seen  his  danger  and  slain  the  knight 
he  was  fighting  with.  Then  he  took  the  enemy's 
horse  and  gave  it  to  Sir  Ulphius.  Men  fought  as 
if  they  had  been  mad  with  rage  and  anger,  but 
between  friends  each  was  ever  ready  to  risk  his 
life  for  the  other.  It  would  be  of  little  use  to 
single  out  one  or  two  and  tell  their  deeds,  when 
each  one  fought  so  bravely,  and  there  was  no  dis- 
tinction Detween  men  of  high  estate  and  low.  All 
men  said  that  the  young  King  Arthur  surpassed 
all  others  in  valor,  and  even  the  foe  paid  a  tribute 
to  his  lion-hearted  courage. 

Now  King  Lot  and  the  rebel  kings,  when  they 
found  that  they  could  make  no  headway  against 
King  Arthur,  withdrew  together  to  take  counsel. 
"  I  know  not,"  said  King  Lot,  "  the  mind  of  each 
one  of  you,  but  this  I  know,  that  as  long  as  four  or 
five  men  are  left,  I  will  fight  to  the  death,  for  I 
fear  me  the  day  is  lost."  The  rest  had  little  to 
say,  for  they  thought  the  same. 

"I  will  tell  you,"  continued  King  Lot,  "what 
we  can  do.  Five  of  our  leaders  shall  take  their 
men  and  shall  return  to  the  battle.  Six  of  us  will 
remain  here  and  hold  ourselves  ready.  When  the 
foe  is  weary  with  fighting,  we  will  fall  on  them. 
By  this  we  shall  do  them  greater  damage  than  if 


26  HEEOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

we  all  together  fall  on  them  at  one  time.  With  out 
men  we  will  hold  ourselves  ready  by  this  wood 
near  this  little  river." 

Then  the  other  six  kings  galloped  to  the  field 
again,  each  at  the  head  of  two  thousand  men. 
King  Arthur  and  his  knights  were  eager  to  fall 
on  them,  and  met  them,  and  again  the  weary 
righting  went  on. 

Now  while  this  battle  was  raging  in  the  field, 
King  Lot  and  the  kings  with  him  were  astounded 
to  see  coming  from  the  wood  behind  them  King 
Bors  and  King  Ban  with  their  men.  Their  banners 
were  gleaming  and  their  horses  were  prancing  and 
champing  their  bits,  for  they  were  not  weary  with 
fighting  as  were  King  Arthur  and  his  knights. 
King  Lot  said :  "  I  fear  me,  now,  that  we  shall  be 
beaten  indeed.  There  are  no  two  brothers  living 
more  valiant  and  renowned." 

When  King  Ban  and  his  brother  rode  into  the 
field  of  battle,  they  laid  about  them  so  fiercely  that 
their  strokes  resounded  far  and  near.  The  rebel 
knights  drew  closer  together  and  were  afraid. 
Then  King  Lot  and  the  rest  rode  into  the  field 
again  to  rescue  their  companions. 

King  Carados  and  the  King  of  an  Hundred 
Knights  had  a  mighty  encounter  with   Ban  and 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  27 

Bors.  They  fought  together  till  the  valiant 
brothers  were  both  dismounted.  Then  King  Lot 
and  the  others  surrounded  them,  thinking  now  to 
get  the  better  of  them.  But  King.  Arthur,  who, 
though  weary,  was  ever  to  be  found  where  his 
help  was  the  most  needed,  came  up,  and,  singling 
out  a  knight  most  richly  armed,  gave  him  such  a 
blow  on  the  helmet  that  he  drove  the  knight  off 
his  horse  to  the  ground,  dead.  Then  he  took  the 
horse  by  his  golden  bridle  and  rode  up  with  hirn 
to  King  Ban,  who  lightly  disentangled  himself 
from  his  enemies  and  mounted.  Sir  Ulphius  did 
the  like  for  King  Bors.   . 

By  this  time  so  many  had  been  slain  that  the 
rebel  host  lost  heart,  and  knowing  not  which  way 
to  turn,  they  fled  wildly  in  all  directions.  It  soon 
became  a  general  rout,  but  the  rebel  kings  rode 
slowly  from  the  field  and  made  a  final  stand  at  the 
river,  trying  to  cover  the  retreat  of  their  beaten 
army. 

By  this  victory  Arthur  was  firmly  established 
on  the  throne,  and  in  the  years  that  followed, 
most  of  the  rebel  kings  at  one  time  or  another 
became  reconciled  to  him  as  their  overlord. 

After  returning  thanks  for  this  great  victory, 
the  three  kings  made  their  way  with  the  army  to 


28  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

London.  All  round  the  city  in  the  meadows  great 
tents  and  pavilions  were  pitched  for  the  men  at 
arms.  All  the  townspeople  swarmed  out  from  the 
city  to  greet  them,  and  there  was  great  feasting 
and  rejoicing  for  many  days. 

Arthur  gave  command  that  all  the  treasure  that 
had  been  collected  from  the  camp  and  battle-field, 
after  the  flight  of  the  rebels,  should  be  gathered 
in  one  great  heap.  Then  the  three  kings  distrib- 
uted it  to  their  men,  according  to  their  degree. 
They  gave  away  the  war  horses  with  their  accou- 
terments,  the  rich  armor,  and  the  gold  and  silken 
cloth,  till  there  was  none  left  for  themselves.  And 
the  people  returned  to  their  homes  well  contented, 
and  ready  to  come  forth  and  fight  for  Arthur  when- 
ever he  should  call  them,  for  he  was  a  great  warrior 
and  a  generous  king. 


4.    THE    ROMANS    AND    THE    SAXONS    SEND 
AMBASSADORS. 

While  King  Arthur  held  his  court  at  London,  the 
Emperor  of  Rome  sent  to  him  demanding  tribute 
money  and  homage  from  him  as  overlord  of  the 
land  of  Britain.     But  Arthur,  after  calmly  debat- 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR,  29 

ing  with  his  great  lords  and  barons,  said  :  "  I  owe 
the  emperor  no  tribute,  nor  do  I  hold  my  realm 
under  him.  On  a  fair  field  will  I  pay  tribute  with 
a  long  spear  and  a  sharp  sword,  and,  by  the  soul 
of  my  father,  Uther  Pendragon,  it  will  not  be  long 
before  I  pay  this  to  him."  The  ambassadors  de- 
parted very  wroth. 

There  came  a  very  different  message  of  defiance 
to  King  Arthur  from  the  Saxons,  which,  as  we  shall 
see,  led,  curiously  enough,  to  his  falling  in  love 
with  the  beautiful  Guinevere.  As  he  was  sitting 
at  meat  with  his  barons  and  knights,  a  bold  and 
swaggering  man  came  into  the  great  hall. 

"  Fellow,  what  will  you  here  ?  "  said  the  king. 

"  I  greet  you,  Sir  King,  from  my  lord  King 
Rions,1  and  this  is  the  message  I  bear :  King 
Eions  has  overcome  eleven  kings,  and  each  one  of 
them  has  done  him  homage.  This  was  the  hom- 
age they  did  him.  They  gave  him  their  beards 
flayed  from  their  faces.  With  these  King  Rions 
has  trimmed  his  mantle,  but  there  lacks  one  place 
without  any  beard;  wherefore  do  you,  Arthur, 
send  him  yours.  If  not,  he  will  enter  your  lands 
and  burn  and  slay,  and  never  leave  till  he  has  the 
head  with  the  beard  on  it." 

1  Rions  =  Ry'-ons. 


30  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Arthur  and  his  court  laughed  long  and  loudly, 
for  he  was  too  young  yet  to  have  a  beard. 
Then  Arthur  said  to  the  messenger :  "  Tell  thy 
king  this :  I  owe  him  no  homage,  nor  shall  I 
pay  him  any,  but  on  his  knees  shall  he  do  hom- 
age to  me,  or  else  he  shall  lose  his  head.  This 
is  the  most  shameful  message  that  ever  I  heard 
speak  of." 

Soon  after  this  King  Arthur  came  to  Merlin  and 
said  to  him :  "  My  lords  and  barons  will  leave  me 
no  peace,  but  say  that  I  must  take  a  wife.  Aid 
me  with  your  wisdom,  for  I  know  no  maid  whom 
I  would  wish  to  wed." 

And  Merlin  said,  "  Let  us  talk  of  it  with  King 
Ban  and  King  Bors." 

When  they  were  come,  Merlin  said  :  "  There  lives 
to  the  northward  a  great  king  whose  name  is 
Leodgrance.1  He  has  a  very  rich  kingdom,  and 
King  Rions  fights  against  him.  If  it  were  not  for 
the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  that  Uther  Pen- 
dragon  gave  him,  long  before  this  he  would  have 
been  overcome,  for  he  is  very  old.  He  has  one 
daughter,  the  damsel  Guinevere2 ;  she  is  more  beau- 
tiful, and  wise,  and  rich,  than  any  other  maid  in  the 
land,  and  very  well  she  will  suit  King  Arthur  for 

1  Leodgrance  =  Le-od'-grans.  2  Guinevere  =  Guin'-e-ver. 


THE   STORY   OF   AETHUE.  31 

a  wife.  Go  ye,  all  three,  and  fight  the  battles  of 
King  Leodgrance  for  him,  "and  Arthur  shall  see 
Guinevere." 

At  first  King  Ban  and  King  Bors  objected. 
They  thought  it  not  wise  to  remain  so  long  away 
from  their  own  kingdoms,  but  Merlin  showed  them 
how  much  stronger  they  would  be  with  the  alli- 
ance of  both  Arthur  and  the  rich  King  Leodgrance. 
"  One  must  take  a  long  run  if  one  wishes  to  jump 
far,"  said  Merlin.  "  If  we  do  as  I  say,  it  will  not 
be  time  lost." 

"  We  will  be  advised  by  thee,"  said  they.  "  For 
never  have  we  found  a  wiser  man  than  thou." 


5.   HOW  ARTHUR   WON   HIS   WIFE. 

Then  Arthur,  Ban,  Bors,  and  a  chosen  band  of 
knights  led  by  Merlin  set  out  for  the  country  of 
King  Leodgrance.  On  Easter  eve  they  arrived  at 
Carmelhide l  and  entered  the  city.  They  rode  to 
the  palace  of  King  Leodgrance,  whom  they  found 
in  a  state  of  great  dismay.  King  Bions  had 
entered  his  lands  in  company  with  five  great 
barons,  and  had  laid  siege  to  his  rich  and  beautiful 

1  Carmelhide  =  Kar'-mel-hld. 


32  HEROES   OF   CHIVALKY. 

city  of  Daneblaise.1  Leodgrance  was  sitting  with  a 
company  of  his  barons  whom  he  had  summoned  to 
the  council  chamber,  when  Arthur  and  his  friends 
arrived  at  the  palace.  When  they  were  ushered 
in,  King  Leodgrance  saw  at  a  glance  that  they 
must  be  mighty  lords,  so  noble  was  their  bearing 
and  so  gentle  and  courteous  were  their  manners. 

King  Ban  became  the  spokesman.  u  Sire,"  he 
said,  bowing  low,  "  take  us  to  be  your  men." 

"  In  good  sooth,  ye  are  welcome  if  ye  come  on  a 
good  errand." 

"  Truly,  sire,  we  will  prove  it  by  our  deeds. 
Suffer  us  to  withhold  our  names  till  such  time  as 
we  have  proved  ourselves.  We  come  here  to  serve 
you,  and  loyal  are  we  and  true." 

Leodgrance  replied,  "I  will  confer  with  my 
barons ;  if  they  are  agreed,  I  will  gladly  accept 
your  help." 

Then  he  consulted  with  the  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table,  whether  the  strangers  should  be  received  or 
not.  His  knights  replied,  "  Sire,  to  keep  them 
with  us  can  do  no  harm,  for  we  can  see  they  are 
full  knightly  in  their  bearing." 

So  Leodgrance  came  to  them  and  said,  "  Gentle 
knights,  gladly  will  I  accept  your  help,  and  I  pray 

1  Daneblaise  =  Dan'-e-blaz. 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  33 

you  by  the  love  I  bear  you,  to  let  us  know  your 
names  as  soon  as  may  be."  Then  the  allied  kings 
were  full  of  joy,  and  swore  to  help  Leodgrance  to 
the  best  of  their  power. 

King  Leodgrance  gave  commands  that  his  army 
should  be  assembled  by  Ascension  Day,  and  some 
of  his  barons  he  sent  out  to  collect  provisions,  that 
there  might  be  no  lack.  Then  followed  busy  days 
for  all.  Merlin  was  sometimes  with  Arthur,  and 
sometimes  he  left  him  for  days  at  a  time.  He 
visited  all  parts  of  the  kingdom  that  he  might 
bring  tidings  to  Arthur  of  all  that  went  on. 

King  Leodgrance  and  his  knights  set  their  war 
harness  in  order  and  all  their  weapons.  All  day 
long,  and  at  night  too,  might  be  heard  the  clang 
of  steel  and  iron  as  the  armorers  worked,  strength- 
ening rivets  and  bolts  and  sharpening  spears  and 
swords.  All  the  people  in  Carmelhide  who  could 
carry  arms  and  all  the  country  people  gathered  in 
such  numbers  that  seven  thousand  were  lodged 
within  the  city  gates,  and  outside  the  walls  in 
tents  and  pavilions  were  forty  thousand  more  of 
horse  and  foot  soldiers. 

Then  word  was  brought  to  King  Leodgrance 
that  his  enemies  were  carrying  off  the  provisions 
from  the  country-side  and  burning  the  crops  and 


34  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

iiouses.  They  came  so  near  the  city  that  the  cries 
of  the  men  and  the  animals  they  were  driving  away 
could  be  heard  within  the  walls.  Then  King 
Leodgrance  was  angry  and  gave  command  that 
the  army  should  march  at  once. 

Cleodalis,1  the  seneschal,  led  the  army  of  the 
people,  and  with  them  rode  the  city  knights. 
Before  them  was  carried  the  great  gonfalon  or 
banner  of  their  king.  Leodgrance  himself  rode 
with  a  separate  band,  the  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table.  They  numbered  two  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
and  carried  before  them  the  little  scarlet  gonfalon 
of  their  king  —  a  field  sown  with  golden  crowns, 
and  crossed  with  two  long  stripes  of  scarlet. 

The  allied  kings  were  not  behindhand  in  their 
preparations,  but  quickly  made  ready  with  all 
their  company.  Merlin  himself  carried  Arthur's 
standard.  Many  wondered  when  they  looked  at 
it,  for  it  bore  a  great  dragon  with  a  writhing  body, 
and  from  his  open  jaws  he  thrust  his  tongue, 
spitting  fire.  With  banner  waving  in  their  midst, 
and  all  in  flashing  armor,  horse  and  man,  they 
made  a  brave  show,  not  to  be  outdone  by  that 
of  the  venerable  King  Leodgrance  and  his  lusty 
knights. 

1  Cleodalis  =  Kle-o'-da-lis. 


THE    STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  35 

By  the  orders  of  Leodgrance  the  army  had 
assembled  within  the  city  walls,  and  when  they 
came  to  the  gates,  they  found  them  closed  against 
the  enemy.  Now  Merlin,  with  the  three  allied 
kings,  wanted  to  be  the  first  in  the  field.  The 
guards  would  not  open  the  gates  without  the 
orders  of  Leodgrance,  and  so  Merlin,  leaving  the 
three  kings  to  parley  with  the  guards,  walked  to 
the  gates  and  laid  his  hand  on  them  —  and  lo ! 
they  flew  open  at  once.  Before  the  guards  could 
recover  from  their  astonishment,  Arthur's  company 
passed  through  and  the  gates  closed  behind  them. 

King  Arthur,  King  Ban,  and  King  Bors,  and  the 
knights  with  them  were  as  much  astonished  as 
any  one ;  but  Merlin  cried  aloud  the  battle-cry  of 
King  Arthur,  and  as  one  man  they  galloped  at  the 
enemy.  They  came  up  with  a  band  of  nearly  two 
thousand  men,  who  were  driving  off  a  number  of 
beasts.  Then  Merlin  waved  the  flaming  banner 
high,  and  Arthur's  company  fell  upon  the  foe. 
After  they  had  wounded  and  slain  the  greater  part, 
the  rest  made  off,  and  Arthur's  men  turned  the 
cattle  and  drove  them  toward  the  city. 

By  this  time  the  Saxons,  with  King  Rions  of 
the  red  beard  at  their  head,  had  drawn  up  their 
army  in  force,  fifteen  thousand  men  in  all.     They 


36  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

had  with  them  great  quantities  of  spoil  which 
they  had  hoped  to  carry  off. 

King  Leodgrance,  meanwhile,  saw  what  was  hap- 
pening, and  commanded  that  the  city  gates  should 
be  thrown  open.  At  the  head  of  his  knights  he 
issued  forth,  followed  by  Cleodalis  leading  the 
great  army. 

King  Arthur,  when  he  saw  how  he  was  to  be 
supported,  turned  and  faced  the  army  of  the 
Saxons.  The  two  armies  came  together  with  a 
terrific  clash.  Arthur  and  his  knights  performed 
prodigies  of  valor,  nor  did  King  Leodgrance  and 
his  knights  do  less.  The  slaughter  for  a  while 
was  terrible.  When  there  came  a  pause  in  the 
fight,  it  was  seen  that  in  the  turmoil  King  Leod- 
grance had  been  separated  from  his  friends,  and 
thrown  down  and  taken  prisoner. 

Now  Leodgrance  had,  as  we  have  heard,  a  beau- 
tiful daughter  called  Guinevere.  Many  people 
said  that  she  was  the  most  beautiful  woman  in 
all  the  world.  She  and  her  favorite  maidens  had 
stationed  themselves  on  the  walls  of  the  city, 
whence  they  could  easily  see  what  was  taking 
place.  She  had  watched  with  curious  interest  the 
prowess  of  the  unknown  knights ;  but  now  with 
a  shriek  of  horror  she  saw  her  beloved  old  father 


THE    STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  37 

thrown  from  his  horse  and  a  prisoner  in  the  hands 
of  his  cruel  enemies.  Five  hundred  of  them 
quickly  gathered  round  him  to  take  him  off  to  the 
camp  of  King  Rions. 

When  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  saw 
what  had  happened,  they  were  desperate.  Taking 
counsel  together,  they  resolved  that,  now  they  had 
lost  their  king,  all  that  remained  for  them  was 
to  die  valiantly,  for  rescue  him  they  could  not. 
At  the  first  they  had  numbered  only  two  hundred 
and  fifty;  many  had  been  killed  in  the  furious 
fighting,  and  those  who  remained  were  hemmed 
in  by  hordes  of  the  enemy.  They  set  themselves 
back  to  back  and  defended  themselves  so  fiercely, 
that  a  great  wall  of  dying  and  dead  enemies  lay 
all  around  where  the  last  of  the  knights  still 
stood. 

Now  Arthur  had  been  doing  great  deeds  on 
another  part  of  the  battle-field.  He  and  his  little 
band  of  forty  knights  had  joined  themselves  with 
Cleodalis  and  his  four  thousand  soldiers,  and  were 
furiously  attacking  the  fifteen  thousand  Saxons. 
The  field  was  strewn  with  the  dead  bodies  of  men 
and  of  horses.  Merlin,  meanwhile,  had  seen  what 
happened  to  Leodgrance  and  his  company.  He  rode 
up  and   told  King   Arthur,  and  immediately  the 


38  HEROES   OF   CHI V ALE Y. 

king  and  his  knights  galloped  after  the  band  of 
five  hundred  Saxons  who  were  carrying  off  King 
Leodgrance. 

They  came  up  with  them  in  a  little  valley  be- 
tween the  rocks,  and  it  was  as  if  a  sudden  tempest 
had  struck  them,  for  Arthur  shouted  to  his  com- 
pany, "  Sirs,  kill  them  all  at  once ;  ye  are  all  dead 
men  if  a  single  one  escapes  us."  Like  a  whirl- 
wind they  rushed  on  the  five  hundred,  raging 
back  and  forth  among  them  till  not  one  remained 
alive,  and  so  King  Leodgrance  was  saved. 

When  he  glanced  around  at  the  slaughter  they 
had  made,  Leodgrance  marveled;  and  yet  more 
he  marveled  when  he  saw  the  standard  that  Mer- 
lin bore.  From  the  mouth  of  the  great  coiled, 
writhing  dragon  leapt  great  tongues  of  flame,  so 
that  the  whole  field  was  lighted  up  by  the  blaze  of 
light.  Now  Guinevere  from  the  walls  had  seen  all 
this  battle. 

Then  Arthur  said:  "Gentle  companions,  we 
must  not  rest.  Still  there  remain  in  sore  peril 
the  Knights  of  the  Kound  Table."  So  they  went 
swiftly  back  and  found  scarce  twenty  remaining. 
It  was  difficult  for  their  friends  to  reach  and 
rescue  them,  so  surrounded  were  they  with  great 
heaps  of  slain. 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  39 

Then  they  all  entered  the  fight  again:  The 
Seneschal  Cleodalis  proved  himself  a  mighty  war- 
rior, as  did  many  another  at  this  terrible  battle. 
Once  again  poor  old  King  Leodgrance  was  nearly 
taken,  but  Arthur  came  to  his  rescue  and  killed 
the  Saxon  foe.  When  Guinevere  saw  this,  she 
was  overcome  with  joy,  and  she  and  her  ladies  wept 
and  prayed  and  blessed  the  stranger  knights  who 
had  done  such  noble  deeds  that  day.  At  last,  after 
many  an  hour  of  weary  watching,  Guinevere  saw 
the  Saxons  fleeing  in  all  directions,  and  she  knew 
that  for  this  time  at  least  the  savage  foe  was 
conquered. 

The  tired  army  turned  back  toward  the  city, 
and  mothers,  wives,  and  maidens  prepared  baths, 
and  fair  garments,  and  rich  food  to  rest  and 
refresh  them.  But  there  was  wailing  and  great 
sorrow  for  those  who  would  return  no  more. 

The  Princess  Guinevere  and  her  maidens  at- 
tended to  the  wants  of  the  stranger  knights. 
When  they  had  been  clothed  in  beautiful  robes 
after  their  bath  in  the  marble  baths,  they  all 
went  to  the  feast  spread  out  for  them  in  the 
great  banqueting  hall.  The  Lady  Guinevere  her- 
self served  Arthur  at  the  table,  and  Arthur 
thought  that  she  was  the  fairest,  stateliest  maiden 


40  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

his  eyes  had  ever  rested  on.  Then  Guinevere 
fell  on  her  knees  before  him  and  thanked  him 
in  sweet  words  for  saving  the  life  of  her  father; 
but  Arthur  raised  her  and  would  not  let  her  kneel 
to  him.  His  heart  swelled  at  her  gracious  speech, 
and  ever  after  he  loved  her.  And  we  may  well 
believe  that  she  loved  him. 

When  the  men  had  well  feasted,  they  rose  from 
the  table  and  w^ent  into  another  great  hall.  Here 
minstrels  sang  to  them  of  the  deeds  of  their 
fathers,  and  of  their  fathers'  fathers  before  them 
in  other  days.  They  sang  of  love  and  adventure, 
and  even  of  the  great  deeds  done  in  this  battle. 


6.    BETROTHAL   OF   ARTHUR   AND   GUINEVERE. 

Now  King  Leodgrance  and  all  his  people  won- 
dered much  who  these  noble  strangers  could  be. 
The  next  day  he  sent  for  Merlin  and  asked  of 
him  their  names.  Merlin  said,  u  These  knights  are 
men  of  very  high  lineage,  sons  of  kings.  He  who 
is  first  among  them  rides  on  his  adventures,  till 
such  time  as  he  shall  encounter  the  daughter  of 
a  king  worthy  to  be  his  wife." 

Then  said  King  Leodgrance :  "  Well  I  see  that 


But  Arthur  raised  her." 


THE   STORY  OF   ARTHUR.  43 

these  be  men  of  high  estate,  and  men  more  gentle 
and  courteous  and  hardy  have  I  never  seen. 
Willingly  would  I  give  my  daughter  to  one  as 
these.  She  is  most  beautiful,  and  the  best  in- 
structed and  the  wisest  maid  ever  born  in  these 
realms.  After  me,  all  my  rich  lands  and  cattle 
and  royal  treasures  will  be  hers,  for  she  is  the  heir 
of  all  my  lands." 

Merlin  replied,  "Very  happy  will  my  lord  be, 
for  much  he  regards  your  daughter." 

Then  King  Leodgrance  bade  Guinevere  don  her 
richest  robes,  and,  taking  her  by  the  hand,  he  led 
her  into  the  chamber  wherein  were  assembled 
Arthur  and  his  friends,  the  few  remaining  Knights 
of  the  Round  Table,  and  all  the  mighty  princes, 
lords,  and  barons  that  had  come  to  aid  King 
Leodgrance  in  his  war  against  the  Saxons. 

When  King  Leodgrance  appeared  in  the  great 
hall  leading  his  daughter  by  the  hand,  King  Arthur 
and  his  friends  came  forward  to  meet  them.  Then 
King  Leodgrance  spoke  to  Arthur  in  a  loud  voice 
that  could  be  heard  throughout  the  hall.  "  Gentle 
stranger,  I  know  not  your  name,  but  this  I  know : 
never  have  I  seen  before  a  gentler  or  more  cour- 
teous knight  than  you,  nor  one  more  courageous. 
Gladly  I  give  to  you  my   beloved  and  cherished 


44  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

daughter  to  be  your  true  wife."  Saying  this,  he 
laid  the  hand  of  Guinevere  in  that  of  Arthur. 
Then  they  two  were  solemnly  betrothed  before  all 
the  assembled  company. 

After  this  Merlin  said  to  King  Leodgrance, 
"  Sire,  would  you  not  gladly  know  the  name  of 
this  stranger  to  whom  you  have  given  your 
daughter?" 

"  Truly,"  said  King  Leodgrance,  "  and  that 
would  we  all." 

"Then  know,"  said  Merlin,  "this  is  King 
Arthur,  your  overlord,  and  overlord  of  all  the 
realm  of  Britain." 

Then  there  was  such  joy  and  feasting  at  Car- 
melhide  as  had  never  been  known  until  that  day. 
And  all  the  princes  and  barons  and  lords  did 
homage  and  swore  fealty  to  King  Arthur. 


7.   KING   ARTHUR   FIGHTS   WITH   KING   RIONS. 

Hardly  was  this  joyful  event  over  when  King 
Leodgrance  and  his  guests  had  to  take  themselves 
to  war  again.  The  Saxons  were  overrunning  the 
land  in  great  hordes  and  threatening  the  whole 
realm.     A  fresh  division  was  made  of  the  army 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  45 

into  ten  great  bands  under  ten  men  of  great  re- 
nown—  seventy-seven  thousand  men  in  all. 

Before  they  left  the  city  a  farewell  feast  was 
given  to  the  leaders  by  the  Princess  Guinevere. 
After  it  was  over,  with  her  own  hands  she  buckled 
on  the  armor  of  King  Arthur.  Then  Merlin  said, 
"  Sir,  like  the  deftest  of  squires,  she  has  armed 
you  at  all  points  ;  there  is  but  one  thing  lacking 
before  you  leave."  Then  Arthur  clasped  his  fair 
betrothed  in  his  mailed  arms  and  kissed  her  very 
tenderly,  and  took  his  departure. 

It  would  take  too  long  to  follow  the  details 
of  the  conflict.  The  struggle  was  fierce,  for  the 
Saxons  were  ferocious  fighters  and  knew  no  mercy. 
After  long  hours  King  Rions  saw  that  the  battle 
was  going  against  him.  Mad  with  fury,  he  rode  at 
King  Arthur,  who  was  always  the  most  notable 
figure  on  the  field.  He  drew  his  wonderful  sword, 
and  rushed  on  Arthur  like  a  mad  bull.  He  dealt 
him  a  terrific  blow  on  the  head,  but  the  trusty 
helmet,  buckled  on  by  the  slender  fingers  of  Guine- 
vere, withstood  the  stroke.  In  return  Arthur  dealt 
Rions  such  a  blow  on  the  shoulder  that  the  sword 
fell  from  the  Saxon's  hand.  Then  the  gigantic 
Rions  gave  a  roar  of  rage,  and,  dashing  at  Arthur, 
tried  to  drag  him  from  the  saddle  by  brute  force. 


46  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

When  Arthur  felt  the  furious  strength  of  his  power- 
ful foe,  he  threw  his  sword  from  him  and  grasped 
his  saddle  with  all  his  might,  for  he  feared  that  his 
adversary  would  hurl  him  to  the  ground.  Then 
Rions  dragged  and  tore  at  Arthur,  and  they  two 
swayed  backward  and  forward  in  their  saddles. 
But  Rions  could  not  unseat  his  enemy. 

King  Ban  saw  the  fierce  struggle,  and,  fearing  for 
Arthur's  life,  —  for  Rions  was  raging  like  a  maniac, 
—  he  rode  full  speed  at  them.  When  Rions  saw 
King  Ban  coming,  he  redoubled  his  efforts,  but 
without  success.  Ban  struck  a  mighty  blow  with 
his  sword  and  cut  down  right  through  the  shoulder 
and  side  of  King  Rions.  When  Rions  felt  himself 
so  badly  wounded  and  saw  all  his  companions  lying 
dead  on  the  ground,  he  was  seized  with  fear,  and, 
giving  a  howl  of  rage,  he  set  spurs  into  his  horse, 
and  suddenly  turned  and  fled  from  the  field  of 
battle.  As  he  went,  he  yelled  back  curses  and 
threats  of  dire  revenge  on  Arthur  for  this  day's 
disaster. 

Arthur  and  Ban  looked  at  each  other  in  amaze- 
ment, for  this  was  not  the  true  knight's  way  of 
fighting ;  but  they  were  happy  to  be  alive  and  out 
of  the  power  of  the  terrible  Saxon.  Then  they 
rested  and  Arthur  dismounted,  and,  unbuckling  his 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR.  47 

own  scabbard,  seized  the  sword  of  King  Rions. 
He  brandished  it  in  the  air,  marveling  at  its 
wondrous  flashing  brightness.  Then  Arthur  took 
his  own  sword  and  buckled  it  on  King  Ban,  who 
graciously  thanked  his  friend,  and  prayed  that  the 
time  might  come  when  he  could  prove  that  his 
new  sword  had  no  unworthy  owner. 

When  the  horrible  slaughter  was  over,  King 
Leodgrance  returned  to  the  city ;  but  King  Arthur 
and  King  Ban  and  King  Bors  departed  toward 
London,  each  with  a  band  of  men,  to  clear  the 
country  of  the  Saxons  who  still  roved  about  after 
the  battle.  They  had  many  and  surprising  adven- 
tures, which  are  to  be  found  in  the  old  books, 
but  we  must  pass  them  over.  Finally  they  met 
together  again  in  the  Forest  of  Bedingran.  Well 
pleased  were  they  to  see  each  other.  They  camped 
in  a  fair  green  glade  in  the  forest,  under  a  spread- 
ing tree  near  a  little  stream  of  clear  and  sparkling 
water,  where  they  rested  and  told  one  another  their 
adventures. 

8.   ARTHUR   WINS   FRIENDS. 

There  had  been  sad  happenings  at  London  while 
Arthur   was   away.     The    Saxons   had   come  and 


48  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

ravaged  the  land,  burning  and  destroying  all  the 
countryside  and  all  the  shipping  on  the  river.  But 
assistance  had  come  from  a  band  of  young  warriors 
who  called  themselves  "  The  Children.' ' 

When  The  Children  heard  that  King  Arthur  was 
advancing  to  his  city  of  London,  they  rode  out 
with  a  great  company  to  meet  him.  The  day  was 
hot  and  the  roads  were  dusty,  as  happens  some- 
times in  the  month  of  May.  All  the  company 
were  weary,  for  they  had  been  obliged  to  travel  in 
full  armor,  they  and  their  horses,  because  of  the 
wandering  bands  of  Saxons.  When  they  were 
come  to  the  forest,  they  saw  a  company  of  knights 
under  the  trees.  The  leader  of  The  Children  said, 
"Fair  sirs,  can  you  tell  me  where  to  find  King 
Arthur?" 

When  the  knights  looked  at  The  Children,  they 
were  astonished,  and  said  to  each  other,  "  Such  fair 
and  beautiful  and  courteous  youths  must  be  men  of 
high  lineage.' '  They  greeted  them  very  kindly 
and  said,  "  Gentle  squires,  there  under  that  spread- 
ing tree  near  by  the  little  stream  you  will  find  the 
king  and  his  company." 

Hand  in  hand  the  band  of  youths  came  to  where 
the  king  was,  and  kneeled  down  and  saluted  Arthur 
and  his  companions.     One  spoke  for  the  rest,  say- 


THE   STORY  OF   ARTHUR.  4§ 

ing :  "  Sire,  I  have  come  with  my  brothers  and 
cousins  and  relatives  to  you  as  our  liege  lord. 
These  others  with  me  are  men,  high  princes  and 
great  lords,  who  would  fain  receive  knighthood 
from  your  hands,  for  we  have  heard  of  all  your 
knightly  prowess.  AL  this  company  will  serve 
you  truly  if  you  will  accept  our  services.  While 
you  have  been  far  from  your  own  land,  we  have 
guarded  it  for  you,  and  these  have  helped  us. 
To  the  best  of  our  might  we  have  proved  ourselves 
your  liege  men  and  true." 

When  King  Arthur  heard  them  speak  in  this 
courteous  fashion,  he  took  them  each  by  the  hand, 
saluting  them.  He  asked  their  leader  who  they 
were  that  thus  addressed  him.  He  replied,  "  Dear 
lord,  first  we  would  know  if  you  accept  our  ser- 
vice, and  then  we  will  tell  you  who  we  are." 

Then  Arthur  said,  "  Dear,  sweet  friends,  I  will 
most  gladly  accept  your  service,  and  with  mine 
own  hand  I  will  bestow  knighthood  on  you,  and 
you  shall  be  my  dear  friends  and  companions." 
The  Children  and  their  following  knelt  on  their 
knees  and  thanked  the  king. 

Then  Arthur  took  the  leader  by  the  hand  and 
raised  him,  and  said,  "  Now,  good  friends  and  com- 
panions, tell  me  who  you  are,  that  I  may  know." 


50  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

"  Sire,"  said  he,  "  I  am  called  Gawain,1  and  these 
are  my  brothers,  and  we  are  the  sons  of  King  Lot 
of  Orkney.  Our  mother  has  told  us  that  she  is 
your  sister.  She  is  sad  because  of  the  war  your 
barons  have  made  upon  you,  and  desires  much 
that  our  father  be  reconciled  with  you.  For 
many  months  we  fought  with  him  against  the 
Saxons,  the  enemies  of  the  whole  realm.  Now 
we,  The  Children,  have  joined  ourselves  and  have 
come  away  secretly  to  London.  We  have  fought 
again  with  the  Saxons  whom  we  found  there,  and 
have  held  your  city  safe  for  you  against  their 
ravaging.  These  princes  and  lords  whom  you  see 
here  with  us  have  come  from  far  distant  lands  to 
London,  where  we  all  thought  to  find  you  —  for 
your  fame  has  gone  abroad  in  all  lands.  When 
you  hold  your  court  in  London,  we  pray  you  make 
us  knights.  From  no  man's  hand  but  yours  will 
we  ever  take  this  honor.  We  come  to  do  you 
homage  as  the  overlord  of  Britain." 

Then  Gawain  led  each  man  singly  to  King 
Arthur,  and  gave  each  his  name  and  his  titles. 
Arthurs  heart  was  glad  within  him  because 
of  this  goodly  company ;  and  the  followers  of 
Arthur   made   The   Children   welcome,  and    they 

1  Gawain  =  Ga-wan'. 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR.  51 

told  one  another  of  all  the  doings  in  the  wars 
they  had  been  waging. 

When  Arthur  had  talked  long  with  Gawain,  he 
threw  his  arm  around  his  neck  and  said,  "  Dear 
lad  and  fair  nephew,  friend  after  my  own  heart, 
be  thou  the  constable  of  all  my  estates,  and  the 
heir  of  all  my  lands,  highest  lord  in  my  kingdom 
after  me."  And,  all  through  the  stormy  begin- 
ning of  his  reign,  and  afterward  when  there  was 
peace  in  the  land,  and  again  when  the  time  of 
treason  came  and  war  broke  out  once  more  in 
Britain,  King  Arthur  loved  Gawain,  and  Gawain 
loved  Arthur  and  was  true  to  him  and  to  his  noble 
fellowship  of  the  Round  Table.  Never  a  shadow 
of  misunderstanding  or  distrust  darkened  the  close 
love  of  these  two  friends. 

Then  the  gallant  company  mounted  on  their 
horses  and  rode  away  to  London.  They  went  to 
the  great  palace  which  had  all  been  strewn  with 
fresh,  sweetly  smelling  herbs,  and  hung  round 
with  beautiful  silken  embroideries.  Hanging  out 
from  the  walls  were  the  battle-stained  banners  of 
the  knights  of  old.  Flowers  and  herbs  strewn 
thick  on  the  streets  sent  up  a  delicious  fragrance,  as 
they  were  crushed  by  the  feet  of  the  horses  leaping 
and  prancing  in  that  gay  and  glittering  procession. 


52  HEKOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

When  Arthur  arrived  at  the  palace,  he  found, 
waiting  to  meet  him,  his  sister,  the  mother  of 
Gawain.  They  kissed  and  embraced  each  other 
with  great  joy.  When  they  all  had  bathed  and 
robed  themselves,  they  entered  the  hall  and  sat  at 
meat,  rejoicing  after  their  long  journey  through 
the  hot  and  dusty  roads.  The  evening  was  cool 
and  pleasant,  and  the  odors  from  the  sweet  spring 
herbs  and  flowers  filled  the  air.  Gay  and  happy 
parties  strolled  in  the  streets  for  hours,  singing  and 
rejoicing  that  King  Arthur  had  returned. 

That  very  night  King  Arthur  ordained  that  The 
Children  and  their  companions  should  keep  watch 
in  the  great  church  over  their  arms.  All  night, 
clad  in  white  garments,  they  prayed  before  the 
altar.  With  them  watched  and  prayed  also  King 
Ban  and  King  Bors  ;  and  it  was  the  fifteenth  day 
after  Pentecost. 

The  following  day,  after  a  solemn  mass,  before 
all  the  knights  and  princes  there  assembled,  King 
Arthur  took  his  good  sword,  which  he  had  drawn 
from  the  stone  in  the  churchyard  before  he  was 
the  king,  and  buckled  it  round  Gawain.  Then  he 
buckled  on  Gawain' s  right  spur  and  King  Ban 
buckled  on  his  left ;  and  with  the  flat  of  his  sword 
King  Arthur  struck  him  on  the  shoulder,  saying, 


THE   STORY  OF   ARTHUR.  55 

"  Rise  up,  Sir  Gawain,  and  may  God  make  thee  a 
good  and  loyal  knight." 

The  same  ceremony  was  repeated  for  each  of 
his  companions,  and  sometimes  King  Ban  and 
sometimes  King  Bors  buckled  on  the  spurs.  And 
every  knight  received  a  sword  from  the  vast 
treasure  that  Merlin  had  shown  to  the  king  in 
Bedingran.  Afterward  they  made  a  great  feast 
in  the  palace. 

Then  King  Arthur  and  King  Ban  and  King 
Bors,  leaving  ten  thousand  men  to  guard  the  city 
of  London,  took  the  rest  of  their  men  and  crossed 
the  sea.  After  establishing  his  two  friends  safely 
in  their  kingdoms,  Arthur  had  a  great  war  with 
the  Romans  and  subdued  them.  Instead  of  the 
tribute  they  had  demanded,  King  Arthur  sent 
them  the  head  of  the  Roman  leader  who  had 
fallen  in  the  field,  and  Britain  never  again  paid 
tribute  to  Rome,  while  Arthur  ruled. 


9.   THE  MARRIAGE  OF  ARTHUR  AND  GUINEVERE. 

And  now  the  whole  of  Arthur's  army  marched 
back  to  the  seashore  where  he  had  provided  ships 
for  all  that  great  company.     When  they  landed  in 


56  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Britain,  they  had  not  lost  a  single  ship  or  a  single 
man.  Then  they  all  took  their  way  to  London, 
where  they  had  great  joy,  and  feasting,  and  delight. 
But  Arthur  did  not  stay  long  there,  for  now,  after 
all  his  wars,  the  time  was  come  when  he  might 
think  of  "  his  heart's  desire." 

With  a  gallant  company  of  chosen  knights  King 
Arthur  left  London  to  ride  to  the  city  of  Cameliard. 
With  him  went  Merlin,  Sir  Gawain  and  his  broth- 
ers, Sir  Ector,  Sir  Ulphius,  and  Sir  Brastias,  and 
many  others.  A  goodly  array  they  were  as  they 
rode  by  forest  and  stream  and  fair  green  meadow. 
The  trees  were  full  of  green  leaves,  and  the  birds 
sang,  and  the  sun  flashed  on  the  gay  attire  of  the 
knights.  The  very  horses  seemed  to  know  whither 
they  were  going  and  why,  and  they  danced  and 
pranced  along  the  way.  A  very  different  company 
was  this  from  those  we  have  seen  before,  stern 
and  armed  to  the  teeth  and  ready  for  battle. 

As  they  journeyed,  they  engaged  in  happy  talk 
of  their  dangers,  past  now  and  over,  and  of  the 
valiant  deeds,  each  praising  the  other  and  making 
light  of  his  own  prowess.  Sometimes  their  talk 
was  of  other  matters,  and  sometimes  Arthur  rode 
alone,  lost  in  happy  dreams  of  the  fair  maid  so 
soon  to  be  his  wife.     u  Of  her  beauty  and  of  her 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  57 

fairness  she  is  the  fairest  one  alive,"  Merlin  had 
once  said  in  describing  her  to  the  king. 

At  last,  after  many  a  day  of  journeying  that 
seemed  long  to  Arthur,  they  drew  near  to  the  city 
of  Cameliard.  When  King  Leodgrance  espied 
them  in  the  distance,  he  mounted  his  horse,  and, 
with  the  Knights  of  his  Round  Table,  he  rode  out 
to  greet  them.  Much  joy  there  was  in  their  meet- 
ing. King  Leodgrance  loved  King  Arthur  well, 
as  he  had  loved  his  father  before  him,  and  now 
he  was  happy  in  giving  his  daughter  to  such  a 
"  gentle,  perfect  knight."  Young  as  Arthur  was, 
he  had  proved  himself  every  inch  a  king  —  wise 
and  gentle  in  peace ;  stern,  and  brave,  and  relent- 
less in  war.  And  never  was  there  a  king  who 
lived  in  greater  magnificence  than  he. 

The  acclamations  of  the  people  greeted  them  as 
they  rode  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  for  all 
the  populace  had  crowded  to  see  the  king  who 
loved  the  stately  Guinevere.  When  they  came  to 
the  steps  leading  up  to  the  palace,  there  stood 
Guinevere,  happy  tears  and  smiles  chasing  each 
other  over  her  face  like  rain  and  sunshine  on  an 
April  day.  Clad  all  in  white,  with  the  sun  shining 
on  her,  she  looked  like  the  spring  itself  —  a  true 
Flower-of-the-May,  as  some  think  her  name  means. 


58  HEROES  OF  CHIVALRY. 

The  weary  years  of  waiting  were  over,  and  her 
lord  and  king  had  come  at  last.  With  eager  arms 
outstretched,  she  passed  slowly  down  the  marble 
steps  toward  Arthur,  who,  folding  her  in  a  close 
embrace,  "kissed  her  on  her  fair  mouth  and  on 
her  hair  full  sweetly  and  gently." 

And  now  the  day  had  come,  clear  and  bright, 
which  had  been  set  for  the  marriage  of  Arthur. 
By  early  dawn  the  streets  were  full  of  an  excited 
crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children.  All  the  way 
from  the  palace  to  the  minster  the  streets  were 
thickly  strewn  with  fresh  herbs  and  flowers.  Fes- 
toons of  white  blossoms  hung  across  from  window 
to  window.  From  balcony  and  open  casement  hung 
draperies  of  the  richest  white  samite,  embroidered 
in  gold  and  pearls.  Nowhere  was  any  color  to  be 
seen  but  green  and  white  and  gold.  All  adown 
the  walls  were  banks  of  green  boughs  and  ferns 
and  fragrant  shrubs.  All  the  little  children  were 
clad  in  white  and  gold,  so  that,  standing  in  eager 
groups  beside  the  green  banks,  they  looked  like 
clusters  of  white  daisies. 

Before  the  sun  had  risen  high  in  the  blue  heav- 
ens, and  while  the  dew  still  lay  on  the  herbs  and 
the  flowers,  the  sound  of  pealing  trumpets  came 
from  the  hall  of  the  palace.     The  procession  was 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  59 

forming.  At  last  it  came  winding  out  between  the 
arches.  First  came  the  heralds  clothed  in  royal 
scarlet,  and  after  them  came  the  trumpeters  all 
with  silver  trumpets  sounding  out  to  the  glad 
day.  Then  followed  musicians  of  various  sorts,  all 
gorgeously  robed.  After  them  came  bands  of 
Arthur's  trustiest  knights  and  councilors,  with  Sir 
Gawain  and  Merlin  at  their  head.  After  them 
came  the  kings  and  princes  who  had  come  to 
do  homage  to  King  Arthur  as  the  overlord  of 
Britain. 

Then  Arthur  rode  alone  on  a  charger  glittering 
with  jewels.  He  was  clothed  in  a  gold  coat  of 
fine  mail ;  over  it  he  wore  a  robe  of  richest  samite, 
and  on  his  shining  hair  was  a  crown  of  gold.  He 
looked  so  young  and  smiling  that  it  was  hard  to 
believe  that  he  was  the  stern  and  daring  warrior 
whose  fame  had  spread  through  the  world,  even 
to  far-away  Constantinople. 

He  was  followed  by  the  venerable  King  Leod- 
grance,  in  robes  of  gorgeous  purple,  his  white  beard 
flowing  down  nearly  to  the  saddle.  Then  came 
a  band  of  maidens  clothed  in  purest  white,  with 
fillets  in  their  hair. 

A  little  way  behind  rode  Guinevere  alone,  on 
a  horse  flashing  with  precious  gems  —  but  she  her- 


60  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

self  wore  not  a  single  jewel.  She  was  clothed  in 
snowy,  clinging  garments  of  softest,  richest  silk. 
Her  golden  hair  lay  in  heavy  masses  like  a  mantle 
over  her  shoulders.  Reaching  almost  to  the  ground 
a  snow-white,  gauzy  veil,  its  soft  folds  waving  in 
every  lightest  breeze,  enveloped  her  in  a  cloud  of 
shimmering  light.  And  always  the  silver  trumpets 
pealed  out  a  joyous  clamor. 

A  few  paces  after  Guinevere  came  three  of  her 
sweetest  maidens,  fair  almost  as  she,  the  fairest, 
sweetest  maid  in  all  this  island  of  the  sea. 

The  procession  closed  with  bands  and  bands  of 
knights,  with  banners  and  pennons  flying  and 
horses  clamping  and  harnesses  clashing.  As  the 
last  ones  passed,  the  populace  closed  in  behind 
them,  following  them  to  the  church. 

The  service  was  a  beautiful  one,  with  singing 
choir  and  swinging  censers,  from  which  the  sweet 
incense  floated  in  clouds  through  the  aisles.  Arthur 
and  Guinevere  received  the  benediction  on  their 
marriage,  from  the  archbishop. 

Who  can  describe  the  rejoicings  which  followed  ? 
Every  one  in  Cameliard  shared  in  that  feasting. 
Booths  had  been  put  up  in  the  meadows  outside 
the  city,  and  there,  in  happy  parties  seated  on  the 
cool,   green  grass,  the   people  feasted  and   called 


THE   STORY  OF   ARTHUR.  61 

down  from  the  good  God  richest  blessings  on  the 
heads  of  Guinevere  and  Arthur. 

In  the  palace,  after  the  rich  meats  had  been 
served,  King  Leodgrance  stood  up,  and  the  merry 
chatter  round  him  ceased  as  he  said  :  "  Kings, 
princes,  and  true  knights,  this  day  I  have  given 
to  King  Arthur  what  most  I  prized,  my  daughter 
Guinevere.  Great  is  the  honor  we  have  had 
from  him,  and  may  God  grant  him  all  honor,  for 
never  can  I  repay  him.  My  lands,  too,  would  I 
gladly  give  him,  for  with  my  kingdom  he  may 
do  what  he  will;  but  lands  he  hath  enough  and 
to  spare.  Therefore,  what  remains  to  me  that  I 
love  most  I  give  him  —  my  Round  Table.  From 
the  hands  of  the  great  Uther  Pendragon  I  received 
it,  and  now  I  give  it  to  his  son.  I  am  an  old  man, 
and  no  more  have  I  the  might  to  maintain  it  as 
of  yore.  Of  its  two  hundred  and  fifty  knights  but 
few  remain.  King  Arthur,  of  his  noble  prowess 
and  royal  liberality,  will  maintain  it  in  all  honor. 
Under  him  once  more  they  will  flourish,  and 
bring  peace  and  justice  and  joy  to  the  Island  of 
Britain. 

"Will  ye,  my  noble  knights,  that  I  do  this 
thing?" 

Then    the   remaining   Knights   of    the    Round 


62  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Table  sprang  up  with  one  accord,  and,  holding 
up  their  hands  to  heaven,  said,  "Ah!  dear  God, 
praised  be  the  noble  King  Leodgrance,  who  has 
given  to  us  such  a  leader  and  protector."  Then 
they  went  to  King  Arthur,  and,  kneeling  down 
before  him,  they  swore  themselves  his  knights. 

And  Leodgrance  was  glad,  but  also  he  was  a 
little  sad  to  lose  both  his  daughter  and  his  Round 
Table  on  one  day.  The  next  day  Arthur  and 
Guinevere  and  their  company  of  knights  rode 
back  through  the  green  forests  and  by  the  pleas- 
ant meadows  to  London. 


10.  THE  FELLOWSHIP  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE. 

Guinevere  and  Arthur  returned  to  London  in 
company  with  their  knights  and  women.  They 
did  not  ride  fast,  but  loitered  in  the  green  forests 
and  the  pleasant  meadows.  At  night  beautiful 
pavilions  of  silk  were  pitched,  where  they  slept. 
In  the  evening  time  great  bonfires  were  lighted, 
and  till  late  into  the  night  they  all  sat  and  talked 
of  jousts  and  tourneys.  To  the  accompaniment 
of  harps  bards  sang  to  them  many  strange  tales  of 
wonder,  and  of  the  deeds  of  knights  and  ladies. 


THE   STORY  OF   ARTHUR.  63 

and  of  the  early  times  before  ever  the  Romans  or 
the  Saxons  had  come  to  the  island. 

Before  they  left  Carmelhide,  King  Arthur  had 
dispatched  swift  messengers  to  summon  to  London 
many  noble  knights.  For  after  the  coronation  oi 
the  queen,  there  were  to  be  in  London  great  jousts 
and  tournaments,  and  there  would  Arthur  fully 
establish  his  Round  Table.  The  preparations 
went  on  quickly  after  the  king's  arrival  in  the 
city.  Many  of  the  rebel  kings  consented  at  last 
to  do  homage  to  Arthur,  among  them  King  Lot  of 
Orkney.  All  night,  before  the  coronation,  young 
squires  watched  their  armor  and  fasted  and 
prayed,  for  it  was  decreed  that  when  Guinevere 
was  crowned,  many  men  should  be  made  knights. 

The  morning  broke  fair  and  clear,  and  it  seemed 
as  if  the  whole  of  that  vast  city  was  a  great 
palace.  The  streets  could  not  be  seen  for  rushes, 
herbs,  and  flowers.  The  walls  of  the  houses  were 
hidden  by  gorgeous  tapestries  and  rich  hangings 
of  silks  of  a  hundred  colors. 

After  hearing  mass  in  the  minster,  King 
Arthur  and  Guinevere  went  up  to  the  altar,  and 
there,  with  all  due  solemnity,  was  Guinevere 
crowned  queen  by  Arthur's  side.  Then  a  vast 
shout  went  up  from  hundreds  of  throats  till  the 


64  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

walls  of  the  city  fairly  trembled.  When  the  sol- 
emn ceremony  was  over,  King  Arthur  and  Queen 
Guinevere  went  to  a  great  feast  in  the  palace. 
All  the  tables  were  spread  with  dishes  of  gold, 
on  which  lay  rich  meats  brought  from  near  and 
far.  Sir  Lucan,1  the  butler,  carried  two  cups 
before  the  queen,  and  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Gawain 
and  Sir  Kay  and  many  others  served  the  meal 
that  day. 

When  the  feast  was  done,  Merlin  led  in,  before 
the  king  and  queen,  the  strange  knights  who  had 
come  at  his  summons.  One  by  one  he  led  them 
up  to  Arthur,  and  the  king  greeted  them.  Then 
the  king  led  the  way  into  the  great  hall  where 
the  Round  Table  had  been  set  up.  A  strange 
sight  was  seen  there,  for  on  every  seat  was  writ- 
ten, in  letters  of  bright,  new  gold,  the  name  of  a 
knight,  telling  where  he  should  sit. 

Then  Arthur  took  his  seat,  and  each  knight 
who  was  named  took  his  allotted  place,  and  it  was 
found  that  every  seat  was  occupied,  save  only  the 
Seat  Perilous.  Then  Merlin  told  them  that  only 
when  the  purest  knight  in  all  the  world  should 
come,  one  who  should  achieve,  or  find  the  Grail, 
would  that  seat  be  filled.     Before  that  happened, 

1  Lucan  =  Lu'-kan. 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  65 

here  a  knight  and  there  a  knight  dared  to  sit  in 
that  seat,  but  with  loud  grumbling  and  rocking  the 
earth  opened  and  swallowed  them  up.  So  men 
became  afraid  to  sit  there 

It  would  take  too  long  to  tell  the  names  of  all 
the  two  hundred  and  fifty  knights,  especially  as  we 
shall  not  be  able  to  hear,  at  this  time,  their  ad- 
ventures. Among  the  newcomers,  however,  were 
Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake,1  Sir  Tristram  of  Lyonesse,2 
Sir  Bors,  and  many  others.  Sir  Gawain  and  his 
brothers,  Sir  Agrawaine,  Sir  Gaheris,3  and  Sir 
Gareth,4  all  were  named  of  the  company  of  the 
Round  Table,  likewise  Sir  Kay,  Sir  Ulphius,  and 
Sir  Brastias. 

For  many  years  King  Arthur  and  his  Knights 
of  the  Round  Table  blessed  the  land  of  Britain, 
and  the  fame  of  them  has  lasted  down  to  our  own 
day.  Peace  and  plenty  dwelt  in  the  land,  and  the 
knights  did  wonderful  deeds  of  prowess  in  dark 
forests  and  on  land  and  sea.  Arthur  held  his 
court  now  in  the  south,  now  in  the  north,  some- 
times in  Wales,  sometimes  in  Cornwall,  and  then 
were  held  great  joustings,  and  much  honor  was 
won. 

1  Lancelot  =  Lon'-se-lot.  8  Gaheris  =  Ga'-her-is. 

2  Lyonesse  =  Ll-o-ues'.  4  Gareth  =  Ga'-reth. 

F 


66  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake  and  Sir  Gawain  were 
made  the  ^heads  of  a  company  called  the  Queen's 
Knights,  twenty  picked  knights  from  the  Round 
Table.  They  swore  to  guard  and  defend  the  queen 
at  the  risk  of  their  own  lives.  They  were  her 
chosen  champions  in  any  quarrel  that  arose,  for 
the  king,  being  the  judge  of  all  the  people,  might 
not  fight  her  battles  himself  if  quarrels  came. 


ii.    ARTHUR   GETS   HIS   SWORD,  EXCALIBUR. 

One  day,  when  Arthur  was  riding  in  the  forest 
with  Merlin,  they  came  to  a  rich  pavilion,  and 
near  by  a  knight,  armed,  sitting  in  a  chair.  "  Sir 
Knight,"  said  Arthur,  "wherefore  sit  you  here 
in  the  way,  so  that  no  knight  may  pass  unless 
he  fight  you?     I  bid  you  leave  this  custom." 

"  This  custom  have  I  made,"  said  the  knight, 
"  and  I  will  defend  it,  be  he  who  he  may  that 
says  me  nay." 

Then  Arthur  and  the  knight  rode  at  each 
other  and  broke  both  their  spears,  and  Arthur 
drew  his  sword.  "Nay,"  said  the  knight,  "you 
are  a  passing  good  knight;  let  us  ride  together 
again  with  spears." 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR.  67 

"  I  have  no  other  spear,"  said  Arthur. 

u  But  I  have,"  said  the  knight,  and  he  called  to 
his  squire,  and  he  brought  forth  spears  from  the 
pavilion,  and  Arthur  chose  him  a  new  one  and 
so  did  the  knight.  Then  they  rode  together 
again,  and  so  evenly  were  they  mated  that  the 
same  thing  happened  again  and  yet  again. 

"  For  the  honor  of  knighthood,"  said  the  knight, 
"  let  us  joust  once  again."  Then  they  got  two 
great  spears,  and  they  rode  at  each  other  heavily, 
and  Arthur's  spear  was  shivered  in  pieces,  and  he 
and  his  horse  were  thrown  to  the  ground.  But 
Arthur  sprang  up  and  drew  his  sword,  and  the 
knight  alighted  from  his  horse,  and  they  came 
at  each  other  with  strong  strokes,  so  they 
wounded  each  other  sorely.  Then  they  rested, 
and  fell  at  each  other  again,  and  as  they  fought, 
their  swords  came  together  full  in  the  middle,  so 
that  Arthur's  sword  broke  in  two  pieces. 

Then  was  Arthur  weary,  and  the  knight  took 
him  by  the  middle  and  threw  him  to  the  ground, 
crying,  "  Now  I  have  worsted  thee ;  yield  thee  to 
me  as  a  recreant  knight." 

But  Arthur  said,  "  As  for  death,  it  is  welcome 
when  it  cometh,  but  as  to  yield  me  to  thee  recre- 
ant, I  had  far  sooner  die  than  be  so  shamed." 


68  HEKOES   OF  CHIVALEY. 

Then  the  knight  rived*  Arthur's  helmet  to  strike 
off  his  head.  But  Merlin  cried :  "  Knight,  hold 
thy  hand ;  thou  puttest  this  realm  in  the  greatest 
danger  that  ever  it  was  in.  This  is  a  greater  man 
than  thou  knowest." 

"  Why,  who  is  he  ?  "  said  the  knight. 

"  It  is  King  Arthur,"  replied  Merlin.  Then  the 
knight  would  have  killed  him  for  dread  of  his 
wrath,  but  Merlin  put  an  enchantment  on  him  and 
he  fell  to  the  ground  asleep. 

"Alas,"  said  Arthur,  "now  you  have  shamed 
me  and  killed  a  good  knight  by  your  arts." 

"Not  so,"  said  Merlin,  "you  are  worse  off  than 
he.     In  three  hours  he  will  wake." 

They  journeyed  on  and  came  to  a  hermitage 
where  they  stayed  three  days,  and  Arthur  was 
healed  of  his  wounds  by  soothing  salves. 

Then  said  Arthur,  "  Alas,  I  have  no  sword." 

Merlin  said,  "  I  know  of  a  sword  which  is  more 
precious  than  any  in  this  realm  if  you  may  have 
it.     Look  yonder." 

Arthur  looked  and  saw  a  lake,  and  in  the 
middle  a  hand  and  arm  clothed  in  white  samite, 
and  in  the  hand  a  fair  sword  in  a  scabbard.  "  I 
would  it  were  mine,"  said  Arthur. 

Then  they  saw  a  damsel  of  the  lake,  and  Merlin 
said,  "  Ask  her." 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  69 

"Damsel,"  said  Arthur,  "whose  is  the  sword?" 

"It  belongs  to  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and  is 
called  Excalibur,"  l  said  she. 

"  I  would  I  might  have  it,"  said  Arthur. 

"  I  am  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and  I  will  give 
the  sword,  if  thou  wilt  grant  me  a  request  that 
some  day  I  shall  ask  of  thee." 

"  That  will  I,  gladly,"  said  Arthur.  "  How  may 
I  get  the  sword  ?  " 

"  Yonder  by  the  reeds  on  the  margin  lies  a  little 
boat,"  said  she. 

Arthur  and  Merlin  entered  the  boat  and  came  to 
the  sword,  and  Arthur  took  it,  and  the  arm  drew 
back  beneath  the  waters  of  the  lake.  Then 
Arthur  rejoiced  and  they  came  quickly  to  the 
land,  but  the  damsel  had  vanished. 

Then  said  Merlin,  "Which  would  you  rather 
have,  the  sword  or  the  scabbard?" 

"  Why,  the  sharp  sword,"  said  Arthur. 

"Therein  you  do  wrong,"  said  Merlin,  "for  he 
who  has  this  scabbard  can  never  lose  any  blood, 
be  he  never  so  sorely  wounded."  Then  Arthur 
gazed  at  that  scabbard  with  amaze. 

As  they  rode  they  came  to  Carleon,  and  the 
king's  knights  were  glad.     Then   some  said,  when 

1  Excalibur  =  Eks-kal'-i-ber. 


70  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

they  heard  his  adventure,  that  they  marveled  that 
he  should  put  himself  in  such  danger  alone.  But 
the  others  said  that  it  was  right  merry  to  be  under 
a  chief  who  risked  adventure  as  the  poorest  knights 
in  his  following  might  do. 


12.     SIR   LANCELOT  AND  SIR   LIONEL  SEEK 
ADVENTURES. 

Some  years  after  these  doings,  when  Arthur  had 
returned  from  a  journey  he  had  made  into  far 
lands,  all  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  assem- 
bled at  the  court  and  there  had  a  series  of  jousts 
and  tourneys.  Some  of  the  knights  who  had  not 
had  very  great  fame  hitherto  increased  so  much 
in  power  and  noble  deeds  that  ever  after  they  were 
accounted  the  most  famous. 

Of  all  these  knights  Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake  was 
greatest,  for  in  all  things  he  surpassed  the  others, 
and  was  never  overcome  but  by  magic  or  enchant- 
ments. After  excelling  all  others  at  play  and 
game,  Sir  Lancelot  said  to  Sir  Lionel, 1  his  brother, 
"  Come,  we  will  go  secretly  from  the  court  and 
prove  ourselves  in  strange  adventures." 

1  Lionel  =  Ll'-o-nel. 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  71 

They  armed  themselves  at  all  points  and  rode 
off  on  their  horses.  They  rode  into  a  deep 
forest  and  then  into  a  great  plain.  The  day  was 
very  hot  and  it  was  noon,  and  Sir  Lancelot  said, 
"  Brother,  for  seven  years  I  have  not  been  so 
sleepy  as  I  am  to-day." 

Sir  Lionel  saw  a  great  apple  tree  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, which  cast  a  deep  shadow  all  around,  and 
he  said,  "  Brother,  there  is  a  tree  under  which  we 
may  rest  ourselves  and  our  horses." 

"  It  is  well,"  said  Sir  Lancelot,  and  he  threw 
himself  on  the  grass  and  slept  soundly,  while  Sir 
Lionel  watched. 

By  and  by  Sir  Lionel  saw  three  knights  riding 
fast  and  hard,  pressed  by  one  knight,  who  pur- 
sued them.  '•  Never  have  I  seen  a  more  goodly 
knight,"  thought  Sir  Lionel.  Then  the  one  knight 
overthrew  the  three  others  and  bore  them  to  the 
ground  one  by  one;  and  the  goodly  knight  took 
their  horses'  reins  and  bound  those  vanquished 
knights,  and  easily  threw  them  over  the  saddles  of 
their  horses  to  lead  them  to  his  castle. 

Sir  Lionel  thought  that  he  would  try  a  fall  with 
that  knight.  So  he  made  ready,  and,  quietly  lead- 
ing his  horse  where  Lancelot  could  not  hear,  he 
mounted  and  made  at  the  strange  knight  and  bade 


72  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

him  turn.  Then  the  knight  rode*  at  him  so  hard 
that  he  bore  Sir  Lionel  and  his  horse  to  the 
ground,  and  served  him  as  he  had  done  the  others. 
When  he  had  brought  all  four  to  his  castle,  he 
scourged  them  with  thorns  and  threw  them  into  a 
dungeon,  where  were  many  other  knights  making 
a  great  moan. 

Meanwhile,  Sir  Lancelot  lay  under  the  apple  tree, 
fast  asleep.  By  and  by  four  queens  came  riding 
past.  That  the  heat  of  the  sun  might  not  annoy 
them,  four  knights  rode  near  them  holding  four 
spears,  over  which  was  a  canopy  of  green  silk ; 
and  the  queens  rode  on  four  white  mules.  As 
they  went  they  heard  a  horse  neighing,  and  they 
came  to  the  tree  where  Lancelot  lay. 

Each  one  of  them  wanted  to  claim  Lancelot  as 
her  own.  But  Morgan-le-Fay  said,  "Let  us  not 
strive.  I  will  throw  an  enchantment  on  him  and 
we  will  bear  him  to  my  castle,  and  then  when  he 
awakes,  he  shall  choose  which  one  of  us  he  will 
have."  So  she  laid  an  enchantment  on  Sir  Lance- 
lot, and  two  of  their  knights  placed  him  on  his 
shield  and  so  bore  him  to  the  castle. 

In  the  evening  when  Lancelot  awoke  from  the 
spell,  Morgan-le-Fay  said  to  him,  "Lancelot,  we 
know  well  you  love  only  Guinevere,  but,  neverthe- 


"Sir  Lancelot  lay  under  the  apple  tree,  fast  asleep. 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR.  75 

less,  now  you  are  our  prisoner,  and  never  may  you 
be  free  till  you  have  chosen  one  of  us." 

Then  Lancelot  was  very  wroth  and  said,  "As 
for  Queen  Guinevere,  if  I  had  my  liberty,  I  would 
prove  it  on  you  or  yours  that  she  is  the  truest 
lady  to  her  lord  that  lives,  but  I  would  rather  die 
here  in  prison  than  choose  one  of  you  false  enchan- 
tresses to  be  my  love."     Then  they  left  him. 

The  next  day  at  noon  a  damsel  came  to  him 
with  his  dinner  and  said,  "  What  cheer  ?  " 

"Alas,  damsel,  I  am  like  to  rot  here  in  prison, 
for  never  will  I  choose  one  of  those  false  queens." 

Then  the  damsel  said,  "  Sir,  I  know  you  well, 
that  you  are  a  true  and  good  knight,  and  if  so  be. 
that  you  will  aid  my  father  in  the  tournament  that 
will  be  held  by  the  four  queens,  I  will  bring  you 
safely  out  of  the  prison." 

"  Willingly, .  damsel,"  said  Sir  Lancelot.  "If 
you  call  on  me  whenever  you  need  my  aid, 
as  I  am  a  true  and  loyal  knight,  I  will  not  fail 

ycm." 

At  night  time  the  damsel  came  and  led  Lancelot 
out  through  a  secret  passage  that  ran  along  under 
the  lake,  and  when  they  were  come  out  Lancelot 
mounted  on  his  horse  and  took  the  damsel  behind 
him,  and  galloped  off  to  the  castle  of  her  father, 


76  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

.King  Bagdemagus.  The  king  made  right  good 
cheer  for  Lancelot,  and  then  it  was  decided  what 
should  be  done  at  the  tournament.  Fighting 
against  King  Bagdemagus  were  three  knights  of 
Arthur's  court,  Sir  Modred,  a  brother  of  Sir 
Gawain,  and  two  others.  And  always  all  the  three 
set  on  King  Bagdemagus,  and  he  could  not  prevail 
against  those  three  at  once. 

"  Give  me  three  knights/ '  said  Lancelot,  "  and 
give  us  shields  all  white,  with  no  painting  on 
them;  and  when  in  the  tourney  those  knights 
attack  you,  we  will  enter  from  a  little  wood.  So 
it  will  not  be  known  what  knight  I  am." 

It  was  all  arranged  as  Lancelot  had  advised. 
The  next  day,  when  Lancelot  had  been  stationed 
in  the  little  wood,  King  Bagdemagus,  with  eighty 
knights,  went  into  the  lists  and  met  the  king  of 
North  Galis  with  one  hundred  and  sixty  knights ; 
and  the  three  knights  of  Arthur's  court  stood  alone. 
Then  the  two  parties  rode  together  with  a  great 
clash,  and  twelve  of  the  knights  of  King  Bag- 
demagus were  killed,  and  eight  of  those  of  the 
king  of  North  Galis,  and  King  Bagdemagus  and 
his  party  were  driven  far  back  in  the  lists. 

Then   in  rode    Sir  Lancelot    between  the  two, 

1  Bagdemagus  =  Bag-de'-ma-gus. 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  77 

into  the  thickest  of  the  fray,  and  with  one  spear 
he  smote  down  five  knights,  and  broke  the  backs 
of  four  of  them,  and  the  king  of  North  Galis 
was  one  of  them.  Then  Sir  Modred  set  on  Sir 
Lancelot,  whom  he  did  not  recognize  with  his 
white  shield.  But  Sir  Lancelot  rode  at  him  so 
fiercely  that  Sir  Modred's  jpear  broke,  and  the  bow 
of  his  saddle.  Sir  Modred  was  thrown  backward 
from  his  horse,  and  his  helmet  went  into  the 
earth  a  foot  or  more  and  was  like  to  break  his 
neck,  and  he  lay  there  in  a  swoon  a  long  while. 

Then  up  rode  the  other  knights  of  Arthur,  but 
they  might  not  prevail  either.  They  got  such 
buffets  from  Sir  Lancelot  that  they  were  borne 
from  their  horses  in  a  heap  on  the  ground.  Then 
Lancelot  got  a  new  spear,  and  before  it  broke  he 
had  borne  to  earth  sixteen  knights,  and  none  that 
he  smote  could  bear  arms  again  that  day.  With 
another  spear  he  bore  down  twelve  more. 

Then  the  knights  of  the  King  of  North  Galis 
would  joust  no  more,  and  so  each  party  rode  home 
to  its  own  place.  On  the  next  morning  Sir  Lan- 
celot took  leave  of  King  Bagdemagus  and  his 
daughter,  saying  he  would  go  and  seek  Sir  Lionel, 
his  brother,  whom  he  had  lost. 


78  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 


13.     SIR   LANCELOT   FIGHTS   SIR   TURQUIN. 

Sir  Lancelot  rode  off,  and  by  chance  he  came  into 
that  same  forest,  near  to  the  place  where  he  had 
been  sleeping.  On  the  way  he  met  a  damsel,  and 
he  said,  "  Fair  damsel,  know  ye  of  any  adven- 
tures hereabout?" 

"  Yea,  Sir  Knight,  if  thou  darest  to  undertake 
them. " 

"  Why  should  I  not,"  said  Lancelot,  "  seeing 
that  therefor  I  am  come  ?" 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  good  and  well.  Hereby 
liveth  a  knight  whom  no  man  may  overcome,  so 
strong  he  is  and  so  valiant.  In  his  castle  he  has 
in  prison  many  knights,  and  some  of  them  of 
Arthur's  court.  But  when  you  have  released 
them,  if  that  you  are  able,  you  must  .promise  me 
that  you  will  help  me  and  some  other  damsels  who 
are  daily  distressed  and  ill  treated  by  a  false  and 
wicked  knight." 

"  I  will  do  all  your  desire,"  said  Lancelot,  "  if 
you  will  bring  me  to  that  knight !  " 

"  Come  then,  fair  knight !  "  So  she  brought 
him  to  a  ford  in  the  river,  and  on  a  tree  near 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  v       79 

by  was  hung  a  brass  basin.  Sir  Lancelot  let 
his  horse  drink,  and  struck  on  the  basin  with 
his  spear  till  the  bottom  fell  out,  but  still  no 
one  came. 

Then  he  espied  riding  toward  them,  a  long  way 
off,  a  knight  tall  and  strong,  driving  before  him  a 
horse,  across  which  lay  a  knight  all  bound  with 
the  reins  of  his  bridle.  As  they  came  nearer 
Lancelot  thought  he  knew  who  that  bound  knight 
was,  and  when  they  were  near  enough,  he  saw  that 
it  was  Sir  Gaheris,  a  brother  of  Sir  Gawain. 

"  Now,  fair  damsel,"  said  Lancelot,  "  well  I 
know  that  knight  and  love  him.  I  promise  you 
that  first  I  will  rescue  him,  and  then  that  I  will 
deliver  all  the  knights  out  of  that  foul  prison." 

When  the  tall,  strong  knight  had  come  nearer, 
Sir  Lancelot  cried,  "  Now,  fair  knight,  put  that 
wounded  knight  off  his  horse  and  let  him  rest 
awhile,  and  let  us  two  prove  our  strength.  I  hear 
thou  hast  done  foul  despite  and  shame  to  the 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table,  therefore  defend 
thyself." 

"  And  you  be  of  the  Round  Table,  I  defy  you  and 
all  your  fellowship,"  returned  the  stranger  knight. 

u  Ye  talk  too  much,"  said  Lancelot. 

They  came  together  with  great  might,  and  smote 


80  HEEOES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

each  other  in  the  midst  of  their  shields,  so  that  both 
their  horses'  backs  broke  under  them,  and  the  two 
knights  were  astonished.  As  soon  as  they  might, 
they  cleared  themselves  of  their  horses,  and  taking 
their  shields  they  drew  their  swords,  and  gave 
each  other  many  furious  strokes,  and  neither  their 
shields  nor  their  armor  could  withstand  them.  In 
a  little  while  they  both  had  grim  wounds,  that 
bled  most  grievously.    This  they  did  for  two  hours. 

At  last  they  were  both  breathless,  and  that 
knight  said,  "  Hold  your  arm  awhile  and  answer 
what  I  shall  ask." 

"  Say  on,"  said  Lancelot. 

"  Then  listen.  I  am  Sir  Turquin.1  You  are  the 
biggest  man  that  ever  I  have  met  and  the  best 
fighter.  If  so  be  you  are  not  that  knight  whom 
most  I  hate,  I  will  be  friends  with  you,  and  we 
will  be  fellows  together,  and  I  will  never  fail 
you  while  I  live." 

"It  is  well,"  said  Lancelot;  "but  who  is  that 
knight  whom  you  so  hate  ?  " 

"  His  name  is  Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake,  and  he  slew 
my  brother  King  Carados,  one  of  the  best  knights 
alive,  at  the  Dolorous  Tower.  For  Sir  Lancelot's 
sake  I  have  slain  a  hundred  knights,  and  as  many 

1  Turquin  =  Tur'-kwiu. 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  81 

more  I  have  maimed  utterly,  so  that  never  can  they 
help  themselves,  and  many  have  died  in  prison. 
Sixty-four  knights  are  still  in  prison,  and  them 
will  I  free  if  you  will  tell  me  your  name,  and  it 
be  not  Lancelot." 

"  Now  I  see,"  said  Lancelot,  "  that  we  cannot  be 
friends,  for  know,  Sir  Knight,  that  I  am  Sir 
Lancelot  du  Lake,  King  Ban's  son  of  Benoic,  and 
Knight  of  the  Round  Table.  Now  I  defy  thee,  do 
thy  best." 

"  Ah,"  said  Sir  Turquin,  "  you  are  more  welcome 
to  me  than  ever  was  any  other  knight ;  we  shall 
never  part  till  one  of  us  be  dead." 

They  rushed  together  like  two  wild  bulls  and 
gave  each  other  many  wounds,  and  never  would 
they  rest.  At  the  last  Sir  Turquin  grew  faint,  and 
his  blows  grew  slack,  and  he  held  his  shield  low  for 
very  weariness.  Sir  Lancelot,  seeing  this,  leaped 
at  him,  and  got  him  by  his  helmet  and  pushed  him 
down  on  his  knees,  and  smote  his  neck  in  sunder. 

When  Sir  Lancelot  had  done  this,  he  went  to 
the  damsel  and  said,  "  Fair  damsel,  I  am  ready  to 
go  where  you  will  have  me,  but  I  have  no  horse." 

"  Go  to  that  knight  that  is  bound,"  said  the 
damsel  5  "  ask  him  for  his  horse  and  let  him  enter 
the  castle  and  loose  all  the  prisoners." 


82  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Sir  Lancelot  went  to  Sir  Gaheris,  and  said, 
"  Sir  Knight,  be  not  grieved  if  I  ask  thee  for  thy 
horse,  for  I  must  ride  speedily  with  this  damsel 
whom  I  have  promised  to  befriend." 

"  Nay,  fair  lord,  I  will  that  you  command  both 
my  horse  and  me.  You  have  saved  our  lives, 
both  his  and  mine,  and  this  day  I  say  that  you 
are  the  best  knight  on  earth,  for  I  have  seen  you 
slay  the  mightiest  man  and  the  best  knight,  save 
you,  in  the  world.  I  pray  you  to  tell  me  your 
name." 

"  Sir,  my  name  is  Lancelot  du  Lake,  and  I  ought, 
by  right,  to  help  you  for  King  Arthur's  sake,  and 
especially  for  my  lord  Sir  Gawain's  sake,  your  own 
dear  brother.  Wherefore,  I  pray  you,  greet  all 
the  knights  in  prison  for  me,  and  tell  my  two 
brothers  to  go  to  the  court  and  await  me  there, 
for  I  will  come  at  Pentecost.  Now  I  must  ride 
with  this  damsel  to  keep  my  promise." 

Then  Sir  Gaheris  hasted  to  the  castle,  and, 
knocking  down  the  porter,  took  from  him  the 
keys.  When  the  knights  had  come  forth  from  the 
prison,  they  all  thanked  Sir  Gaheris,  but  he  said, 
"  Nay,  it  was  not  I,"  and  he  told  them  how  it 
was.  And  he  gave  his  message  to  Lancelot's 
brothers,  but   "Nay,"  said   they,   "we   will   seek 


THE   STORY  OF  ARTHUR.  83 

Lancelot  till  we  find  him,  and  then  we  will  go  to 
the  court." 

Then  they  sought  all  over  the  castle  for  their 
armor  and  their  horses,  and  when  they  had  found 
them,  they  saw  a  forester  who  came  from  the 
forest  with  a  load  of  venison.  "  Now,"  said  they, 
"  we  will  have  a  good  meal,  for  we  have  not  tasted 
meat  since  we  were  here.  And  so  the  venison 
was  roasted,  and  they  made  a  good  meal.  They 
slept  in  the  castle  that  night,  for  it  was  late. 
The  next  morning  the  two  brothers  started  off 
to  find  Sir  Lancelot  if  they  might,  but  the  other 
knights  returned  to  the  court  which  King  Arthur 
now  held  at  Camelot.1  Years  passed  before  Lance- 
lot returned  to  the  court,  and  many  are  the  books 
filled  with  his  adventures. 


14.  SIR  FAIR-HANDS. 

One  day  when  the  king  and  the  queen  were 
giving  a  feast  upon  the  sands  near  a  castle  in 
Wales,  as  the  custom  was,  they  waited  to  go  in 
to  eat  till  some  adventure  should  befall.  Then 
by  and  by  came  two  old  men  leading  a  very  young 

1  Camelot  =  Cam'-e-lot. 


84  HEROES   OF   CHIVALKY. 

man.  He  was  fair,  and  richly  clad,  and  tall  and 
well  built.  And  he  said  to  King  Arthur,  "  God 
bless  you,  Sir  King,  and  all  the  Knights  of  the 
Round  Table.  I  am  come  to  ask  three  gifts.  The 
first  is  that  for  a  year  and  a  day  you  give  me 
meat  and  drink,  and  after  I  will  ask  for  the  two 
others." 

u  That  is  a  simple  thing,"  said  the  king.  "  It 
seemeth  to  me  that  you  are  come  of  men  of  great 
lineage,  and  do  you  ask  this  ?  " 

"  I  ask  what  I  ask,"  said  the  young  man. 

Then  many  mocked  at  him,  and  Sir  Kay  said, 
"  He  will  never  make  a  gentleman,  else  he  would 
ask  for  a  horse  and  armor.  I  will  give  him  a 
name  —  Sir  Fair-hands  he  shall  be  called.  I  make 
him  one  of  my  kitchen  lads."  But  Sir  Lancelot 
and  Sir  Gawain  were  angry  with  Sir  Kay,  for  the 
lad  pleased  them  well,  and  they  gave  him  gold  to 
spend  and  clothes. 

When  the  feast  of  Whitsuntide  was  come,  and 
the  court  stayed  again,  waiting  for  adventure,  there 
came  a  fair  damsel  into  the  hall  and  saluted  the 
king,  and  prayed  for  help.  "Sire,"  she  said,  "a 
lady  of  great  renown  is  besieged  in  her  castle  by  a 
tyrant,  and  never  can  she  come  out  of  it.  His 
name  is  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lawns,  and  he 


THE   STORY   OF  ARTHUR.  85 

hath  two  brothers,  the  Black  Knight  and  the 
Green  Knight.  They  guard  all  the  ways,  and 
he  who  would  come  to  my  lady  must  first  slay 
them." 

Then  Sir  Fair-hands  claimed  his  two  promises  of 
the  king,  and  Arthur  said,  "  Ask  on."  Fair-hands 
asked  first,  knighthood  at  the  hands  of  Sir  Lance- 
lot, and  after,  to  undertake  the  adventure. 

But  the  damsel,  whose  name  was  Lynette,  cried, 
"  Fie  on  thee  I  shall  I  be  helped  by  a  kitchen 
boy?"     And  she  took  her  horse  and  departed. 

Soon  there  came  a  dwarf  bringing  a  horse  and 
armor  of  the  richest  —  all  that  a  knight  might  need. 
Sir  Fair-hands  mounted  and  rode  after  the  damsel. 
But  Sir  Kay  said,  "  I  will  ride  after  him  and  see 
if  he  will  know  me  for  his  better."  He  over- 
took him  just  as  he  came  up  to  the  damsel,  and 
said,  "  Fair-hands,  know  you  not  who  I  am?" 

"Yes,"  said  Fair-hands,  "  I  know  you  for  a  most 
ungentle  knight ;  so  beware." 

Then  Sir  Kay  rode  at  him  with  spear  in  rest. 
But  Fair-hands  took  his  sword  and  smote  him  such 
a  blow  that  Sir  Kay  fell  down  as  if  he  were  dead. 
Then  Fair-hands  took  his  shield  and  his  spear  and 
left  him  lying. 

By  this  time  Sir  Lancelot  had  ridden  up,  and 


86  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Fair-hands  said,  "  Gentle  knight,  will  you  joust 
with  me?" 

Sir  Lancelot  set  spear  in  rest,  and  they  rode 
together  so  fiercely  that  both  their  horses  fell  to 
earth.  Sir  Lancelot  was  astonished  at  the  strength 
and  skill  of  the  boy,  and,  after  jousting  for  some 
time  longer,  he  said, "  Fairly  and  bravely  you  have 
earned  your  spurs." 

"Shall  I  truly  be  a  good  knight?"  said  Fair- 
hands. 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Lancelot,  "  of  that  I  warrant 
you." 

u  Then,  I  pray  you,  give  me  the  order  of  knight- 
hood, for  of  no  other  earthly  knight  do  I  desire  it." 

"  Tell  me  your  name,"  said  Lancelot ;  "  whose 
kin  are  you?" 

"  Sir,"  said  Fair-hands,  "  I  pray  you  to  keep  it 
secret.  My  name  is  Gareth.  I  am  the  son  of 
King  Lot  of  Orkney,  and  brother  to  Sir  Gawain." 

Then  Lancelot  was  very  glad.  u  Ever  I  thought 
you  were  of  great  blood,  and  came  not  to  the  court 
for  meat  and  drink."  Then  Lancelot  gave  him  the 
order  of  knighthood,  and  bade  him  Godspeed. 

But  the  damsel  mocked  at  Sir  Fair-hands,  and 
taunted  him,  and  called  him  "kitchen  boy  and 
dish  washer,  who  thinkest  of  naught  but  thy  food 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  87 

and  drink."  He  answered  her  never  a  word.  By 
and  by  they  came  to  the  river  that  was  guarded  by 
the  Black  Knight,  and  Sir  Fair-hands  fought  des- 
perately, and  left  him  lying  dead  before  they  could 
win  past. 

Still  the  maiden  mocked  him,  and  he  said  no 
word.  By  and  by  they  came  upon  the  Green 
Knight.  Again  Sir  Fair-hands  fought  long  and 
desperately,  and  was  sore  wounded  before  he  dis- 
posed of  him.  By  now  the  maid  was  not  quite  so 
free  with  her  jeers  and  gibes,  for  Sir  Fair-hands 
fought  well. 

After  a  while  they  saw  in  the  distance  a  fair 
white  tower.  Over  the  tower  gate  hung  fifty  shields 
of  many  colors.  "  Fair  damsel,  whose  are  they  ?  " 
said  Sir  Fair-hands. 

"  They  are  the  shields  of  those  knights  whom 
the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lawns  hath  slain,"  said 
the  damsel.  "Now  we  will  see  if  a  kitchen  boy  will 
be  better  than  they."  But  she  said  other  things 
when  she  had  seen  him  fight  the  Red  Knight. 

Looking  down  on  him  from  the  white  tower  was 
the  fairest  face  Sir  Fair-hands  had  ever  seen.  It 
was  the  face  of  Lady  Lyonesse.  All  the  courage 
of  Sir  Fair-hands  swelled  up  in  his  heart ;  for  such 
a  maid  he  would  fight  to  the  death.     Many  long 


88  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

hours  the  battle  between  the  Red  Knight  and  Sir 
Fair-hands  lasted.  It  was  late  evening  before 
Sir  Fair-hands  overcame  him.  At  the  last  Sir 
Fair-hands  was  so  spent  and  wounded  and  bat- 
tered with  blows  that  he  fell  forward  on  his  face. 

Then  the  damsel  Lynette  cried  out:  "Sir  Fair- 
hands,  Sir  Fair-hands,  alas,  the  Lady  Lyonesse 
beholds  thee  !  Where  is  thy  courage  gone  ?  She 
weeps  and  wrings  her  hands,  and  my  heart  is 
heavy  for  her." 

When  Sir  Fair-hands  heard  that,  he  was  filled 
with  new  life.  He  started  to  his  feet,  and,  grasp- 
ing his  sword,  he  came  at  the  Red  Knight  and 
brought  him  to  his  knees.  Then  he  smote  him  on 
his  helmet  till  he  fell  to  earth.  There  he  would 
have  slain  him  outright,  but  the  Red  Knight  cried, 
"  0  noble  knight,  I  yield  me  to  thy  mercy ! " 

"  Only  if  the  damsel  Lynette  prays  for  thy  life 
will  I  give  it  thee,"  said  Sir  Fair-hands. 

"  I  pray  you  slay  him  not,"  she  said,  at  length, 
reluctantly. 

"  At  this  lady's  request  will  I  release  thee,"  said 
Sir  Fair-hands,  "  if  thou  wilt  go  to  the  Lady  of  the 
White  Tower  and  yield  thee  to  her,  and  if  she  will 
forgive  thee,  well.  Then  shalt  thou  go  to  the  court 
of  King  Arthur  and  pray  for  mercy  of  Sir  Lance- 


THE   STORY   OF   ARTHUR.  89 

lot  and  Sir  Gawain  for  all  the  evil  you  have  done 
and  the  fifty  knights  you  have  slain." 

"  Sir/'  said  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lawns, 
"  I  will  do  all  your  commands.  Then  he  did  hom- 
age to  Sir  Fair-hands  and  all  his  earls  and  barons 
with  him;  and  afterward  the  Lady  Lyonesse  par- 
doned him,  and  he  went  to  the  court  as  he  had 
sworn  to  Sir  Fair-hands. 

The  Lady  Lyonesse,  after  he  had  fought  for  her 
many  a  battle  and  won  many  a  prize  in  great  tour- 
naments, married  Sir  Fair-hands.  And  the  Lady 
Lynette  married  his  brother,  Sir  Gaheris.  Queen 
Guinevere  made  a  great  feast  for  them,  and  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  performed  the  ceremony 
in  the  great  minster.  And  Sir  Gareth  was  a  noble 
knight,  and  he  loved  Sir  Lancelot  more  than  any 
other  man,  and  Lancelot  loved  him. 

For  many  years  the  fellowship  of  the  Round 
Table  of  King  Arthur  nourished  in  Great  Britain. 
By  the  nobleness  of  King  Arthur  and  his  knights 
the  realm  was  quiet  and  at  rest.  There  came  a 
time,  however,  when  they  grew  slack  and  careless, 
and  gave  up  seeking  only  one  another's  good. 
What  followed  will  be  learned  in  the  story  of  the 
Quest  of  the  Holy  Grail. 


II. 

THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 


«  The  master  whispered 
Follow  the  Gleam.    .    . 

O  young  mariner, 
Down  to  the  Haven, 
Call  your  companions, 
Launch  your  vessel 
And  crowd  your  canvas, 
And,  e'er  it  vanishes 
Over  the  margin, 
After  it,  follow  it, 
Follow  the  Gleam." 


II.  THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 


i.    THE  BOYHOOD  OF   SIR   PERCEVAL. 

SOME  people  think  that  the  Grail  was  the  cup 
out  of  which  the  Lord  Jesus  drank  at  His  last 
supper  with  His  disciples,  and  that  Joseph  of 
Arimathea1  held  it  to  catch  the  blood  that  flowed 
from  the  pierced  side  of  the  Lord,  as  He  hung  on 
the  cross  on  Calvary.  Many  wonderful  tales  were 
told  about  the  Grail.  It  was  to  be  seen  only  by 
those  who  lived  brave,  true,  and  pure  lives.  If 
any  one  fed  on  the  precious  food  it  contained,  he 
was  filled  with  all  wisdom  and  virtue. 

Others  think  that  the  legend  of  the  Grail  is 
older  still,  and  that  it  is  connected  with  the  old 
Celtic  myth  of  the  Cup  of  Healing.  However  this 
may  be,  it  is  no  wonder  that  while  men  believed 
in  it,  some  devoted  all  their  lives  to  a  quest,  or 
search,  for  the  Holy  Grail. 

There  lived,  in  those  old  days  of  which  we  have 

1  Arimathea =  Ar"-i-ma-the'-a. 


94  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

been  reading,  a  knight  whose  name  was  Sir  Per- 
ceval.1 In  some  of  the  stories  about  him  he  is 
spoken  of  as  "  the  best  knight  in  the  world."  His 
sister  was  a  damsel  called  Dindrane.2  The  stories 
speak  of  her  as  "  a  holy  nun,"  but  she  did  not  live 
shut  up  in  a  convent  as  most  nuns  do  to-day.  She 
rode  about  the  world  with  Sir  Perceval,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  many  of  his  adventures. 

Before  Perceval  was  born,  his  father,  King 
Alain-li-gros,3  had  lost  the  greater  part  of  the 
Valleys  of  Camelot,  which  had  been  his;  for  his 
enemy,  the  Lord  of  the  Moors,  had  taken  them 
from  him.  In  memory  of  this  sad  event,  King 
Alain  called  his  little  son  Per-les-vay,  which  to-day 
is  changed  to  Perceval,  and  which  means  "  the  lost 
valley."  He  did  this  that  Perceval  might  always 
be  reminded  of  their  wrongs,  and  he  hoped  that 
when  Perceval  was  grown  to  be  a-  strong  and  great 
knight  he  would  win  his  lands  again  from  the 
Lord  of  the  Moors. 

Perceval  and  his  sister  passed  happy  years  as 
children  in  their  father's  castle.  When  Perceval 
had  grown  to  boyhood  he  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  time,  as  was  then  the  custom,  in  learning 

1  Perceval  =  Per'-se-val.  2  Dindrane  =  Din'-dran. 

8  Alain-li-gros  =  A-lan'-le-gro. 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GRAIL.         95 

manly  sports.  He  hunted  in  the  deep  forests  all 
day  long  with  the  huntsmen  of  his  father,  and 
brought  home  many  an  antlered  stag  and  mighty 
boar  to  the  castle.  The  forest  was  full  of  game 
of  all  kinds,  and  his '  mother  depended  on  the 
huntsmen  to  keep  her  larder  well  supplied  with 
meats,  that  she  might  feed  all  her  hungry 
retainers. 

The  old  story  tells  us  that  the  lad  was  "  right 
comely  and  right  gentle,  and  he  began  to  go  into 
the  forests  and  launch  his  javelins  Welsh-fashion 
at  hind  and  hart.  And  his  father  and  mother 
loved  him  much." 

All  this  time  his  sister  stayed  by  her  mother. 
She  learned  the  arts  of  a  housewife,  —  how  to 
spin  and  embroider,  and  to  make  delicate  pre- 
serves, and  to  care  for  the  house  and  linen,  as  a 
good  housewife  loves  to  do.  She  learned,  too, 
to  know  the  virtues  of  healing  herbs,  so  that 
she  might  dress  and  tend  the  wounded  knights 
who  fought  her  battles. 

One  day  Alain-li-Gros,  his  wife  Yglais,1  and 
Perceval  and  Dindrane  went  out  for  a  walk  in  the 
cool  of  the  evening,  through  the  meadows,  to  the 
edge  of  the  wood  that  lay  near  by.     As  they  walked 

1  Yglais  =  Ig'-las. 


96  HEKOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

they  came  to  a  little  marble  chapel.  Over  it  was  a 
roof  of  timber,  and  inside  a  small  altar,  before  which 
stood  a  very  rich  sepulcher.  On  this  was  beauti- 
fully carved  in  marble  the  figure  of  a  man  lying  on 
his  back,  with  his  two  hands  joined  as  if  in  prayer. 

Perceval  asked  his  father  who  lay  in  that  tomb. 
"Fair  son,"  answered  King  Alain-li-gros,  "truly 
I  cannot  tell  you.  The  tomb  has  stood  here  since 
before  the  time  when  my  great-grandfather  was 
born.  I  have  never  seen  any  one  that  could 
tell  who  lies  buried  there.  You  see  the  letters  of 
gold  on  the  marble ;  they  say,  "  When  the  best 
knight  in  all  the  world  shall  come  hither,  the 
joinings  of  the  tomb  will  fall  apart,  and  then  it 
will  be  known  who  lies   herein.', 

Now  Perceval  did  not  yet  know  what  a  knight 
was,  and  so  he  asked  what  a  knight  might  be. 
His  mother  said,  "  Fair  son,  it  is  time  to  tell  you 
of  your  noble  birth,  and  from  whom  you  are  de- 
scended. "  Then  she  told  him  that  his  father  and 
his  eleven  uncles  were  all  descendants  of  Joseph  of 
Arimathea.  They  were  all  men  of  great  courage 
and  gentleness,  and  all  of  them,  save  as  yet 
Perceval's  father,  had  fallen  courageously  in 
battle,  doing  great  deeds.  She  would  have  told 
him  more,  but  Perceval  said   that   that   was   not 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.         97 

what  he  wanted  to  hear,  but  "how  knights  are 
made." 

Then  his  father  told  him  that  the  men  who  were 
truest  and  best,  and  men  of  the  greatest  valor, 
were  those  who  were  made  knights.  At  King 
Arthur's  court  they  could  become  knights,  and 
then  they  wore  armor  to  protect  their  bodies,  and 
carried  swords  and  lances,  and  a  shield  on  which 
was  blazoned  their  emblem  or  coat-of-arms. 

Then  they  turned  back  to  the  castle  for  the 
evening  meal  in  the  great  hall.  I  suppose  the 
boy  went  to  bed  wondering,  and  longing  for 
the  time  to  come  when  he  himself  might  do  valiant 
and  mighty  deeds,  and  become  a  knight. 

The  next  morning,  when  Perceval  rose,  he  heard 
the  birds  singing,  and,  as  he  breathed  the  fresh, 
clear  morning  air,  he  said  to  himself,  "  I  will  go 
into  the  forest  and  spend  this  day,  since  it  is  so 
fair  and  bright."  Then  he  mounted  one  of  his 
father's  hunting  horses,  carrying  his  javelins  with 
him,  and  set  off  for  the  forest.  Before  riding  far 
he  saw  a  stag  and  followed  it  for  four  leagues, 
until  he  came  to  a  wide,  open  space  in  the  heart  of- 
the  woods. 

Here  he  came  upon  two  knights,  all  armed,  bat- 
tling fiercely  one  with  the  other.     One  of  them  had 


98  HEEOES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

a  red  shield  and  the  other  had  a  white  one.  At 
this  sight  Perceval  gave  up  tracking  his  stag,  to 
look  on  at  the  battle.  Seeing  that  the  Red 
Knight  was  conquering  the  white,  he  launched  one 
of  his  javelins  at  the  Red  Knight  with  such  strength 
that  it  pierced  his  habergeon,  or  breastplate,  and 
passed  through  his  heart ;  at  which  the  knight  fell 
dead. 

The  Knight  of  the  White  Shield  was  well 
pleased,  but  the  lad  asked  if  knights  were  always 
so  easy  to  kill.  "  Methought  that  one  could  never 
pierce  or  destroy  a  knight's  armor,  else  would  I 
not  have  run  him  through  with  my  javelin,"  said 
he  sadly. 

Then  the  lad  took  the  Red  Knight's  war  horse, 
which  now  belonged  to  him,  and  led  it  home  to  his 
father  and  mother.  Their  grief  was  indeed  great 
on  account  of  the  knight's  death  at  the  hand  of 
their  son,  and  well  it  might  be,  for  much  trouble 
came  to  them  all  through  this  unfortunate  deed. 

Hasty  preparations  were  made,  and  with  an  old 
retainer  Perceval  rode  off  to  King  Arthur's  court. 
There,  when  Arthur  knew  who  the  youth  was 
and  of  what  lineage,  he  gladly  knighted  him,  and 
named  him  a  fellow  of  his  Round  Table,  in  the 
room  of  a  knight  who  had  been  killed. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GEAIL.  99 


2,    THE  VISIONS  OF  DINDRANE  AND  PERCEVAL. 

When  Sir  Perceval  had  started  on  his  adven- 
tures after  killing  the  Red  Knight,  King  Alain-li- 
gros  was  slain  in  battle  by  the  Lord  of  the 
Moorlands  and  the  brother  of  the  Red  Knight. 
After  that  the  widow  lady  and  her  daughter  were 
left  alone  to  defend  themselves  as  best  they  might. 
The  Lord  of  the  Moors  lost  little  time  in  attacking 
the  defenseless  lady,  and  in  his  train  came  the 
brother  of  the  Knight  of  the  Red  Shield,  seeking 
vengeance. 

In  a  short  time  Perceval's  mother  had  lost  all 
that  remained  to  her  of  her  fruitful  valleys  and  all 
her  seven  castles  but  one.  In  this  one  she  and  her 
daughter  remained  closely  confined,  with  only  a 
few  maidens,  and  without  any  advice  or  help  ex- 
cept that  of  five  old  knights  who  tried  to  guard 
her  castle  for  her. 

Dindrane,  who  was  very  sad  at  the  disasters  that 
had  befallen  her  mother,  took  herself  to  prayer  and 
fasting,  doing  lone  penance  for  all  the  sins  that  had 
been  done  in  the  land.  Sad  rumors  reached  them 
of  slothful  days  at  King  Arthur's  court.  Men, 
given  up  to  pleasure  and  forgetfulness,  no  longer 


100  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

went  about  doing  good  and  giving  aid  to  such,  as 
needed  succor. 

"  And  so  she  prayed  and  fasted,  till  the  sun 
Shone,  and  the  wind  blew  through  her,  and  I  thought 
She  might  have  risen,  when  I  saw  her." 

Thus  Tennyson  speaks  of  Dindrane. 

One  night  as  she  knelt  in  her  small  room,  there 
came  stealing  in  a  pale,  white  radiance,  growing 
ever  whiter  and  more  bright.  Then  she  saw  float- 
ing on  that  radiant  stream  of  light,  "rose-red,  with 
beatings  in  it,  as  if  alive,' '  the  Holy  Grail.  As 
she  gazed  in  awe,  slowly  the  "rosy  quiverings  died 
into  the  night,"  and  all  the  radiance  faded.  The 
vision  of  the  Holy  Grail  had  come  once  more  to 
earth,  and  men,  when  they  knew  it,  would  seek  it, 
and  "all  the  world  be  heal'd,"  thought  Dindrane; 
and  she  was  filled  with  peace  and  hope.  Then  she 
took  counsel  with  her  mother,  and  they  sent  tid- 
ings of  the  strange  vision  to  King  Arthur's  court. 

After  Perceval  had  received  his  knighthood 
from  King  Arthur,  he  went  to  seek  adventures  in 
other  lands.  For  seven  years  he  stayed  across  the 
sea ;  and  then,  having  won  for  himself  much  fame, 
he  returned  to  Britain.     One  day,  as  he  was  riding 


THE  QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY  GRAIL.       101 

through  a  forest,  he  came  to  a  river  on  which  he  saw 
a  boat  with  two  men  in  it  fishing.  One  of  them, 
an  old  man  who  was  sorely  wounded  in  the  thigh, 
cried  out  to  him,  "  Sir  Knight,  if  you  will  go  to  a 
castle  that  I  shall  tell  you  of,  you  will  come  on  an 
adventure  by  which  great  honor  may  be  won." 

Sir  Perceval  answered,  "  Sir,  that  I  will  gladly 
do,  if  I  may  find  the  castle."  After  a  long  while, 
during  which  he  rode  hither  and  thither  through 
the  forest  along  a  perilous  way,  searching  in  every 
place  for  the  castle,  he  came  on  it  quite  suddenly. 
Then  he  was  glad,  and  blew  a  loud  blast  on  the 
horn,  and  when  the  drawbridge  was  raised  he  gal- 
loped into  the  castle  yard. 

There  he  was  most  royally  received  and  led  by 
serving  men  into  the  castle.  When  he  had  bathed, 
his  attendants  clothed  him  in  a  scarlet  robe  and 
led  him  to  the  lord  of  the  castle.  Then  they  sat 
down  at  a  fair  table,  spread  with  a  white  cloth  and 
covered  with  golden  dishes  in  which  was  rich  food. 

After  eating  for  a  while,  Sir  Perceval  heard  faint 
sounds  of  music,  and  there  passed  into  the  hall  a 
man  bearing  a  mighty  sword  with  the  hilt  all  set 
with  precious  stones.  The  lord  of  that  castle  took 
the  sword  and  presented  it  to  Sir  Perceval,  who 
with   great  joy  buckled  it  at  his  side.     Next  a 


102  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Jance,  still  dripping  with  blood,  was  borne  in  and 
passed  up  through  the  whole  length  of  the  hall 
where  they  sat  at  meat. 

Presently  two  men  entered,  carrying  in  their 
lifted  hands  great  golden  candlesticks  lighted  with 
many  candles.  After  them  came  a  most  fair  dam- 
sel, clad  in  white  samite,  bearing  aloft  in  her  hands 
a  shining  Grail,  veiled  in  a  crimson  cloth.  Then 
all  suddenly  the  hall  was  full  of  delicious  odors, 
and  murmuring  music  filled  the  chamber  with 
sweet  sounds. 

Sir  Perceval  was  amazed,  and  dared  not  ask 
what  all  this  might  mean,  and  so  he  sat  silent, 
intently  gazing.  Then  another  fair  damsel  passed 
through  the  hall,  holding  in  her  hands  a  golden 
plate  on  which  lay  fair  fruit  and  flowers.  And 
again  Sir  Perceval  heard  those  gentle  sounds  of 
sweetest  music,  trembling  through  the  air,  and 
again  the  odor  of  delicious  perfumes  was  wafted 
to  him.  Once  again  the  first  fair  damsel  bore 
aloft  that  shining  Grail,  veiled  in  a  silken  cloth. 

Then  silence  fell  on  all  the  company,  and  Sir 
Perceval  felt  a  strange  weariness  in  his  limbs. 
His  attendants  conducted  him,  as  in  a  dream,  into 
a  chamber  wherein  was  a  fair  bed,  and  there  he 
rested  for  the  night. 


Perceval  saw  a  maiden  making  moan  over  a  dead  knight.' 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL.      105 

The  next  morning,  when  he  had  risen,  he  walked 
through  the  halls,  and  finding  no  one,  he  went 
out  into  the  courtyard.  There  by  the  castle  gate 
he  found  his  horse  standing  ready  saddled.  He 
mounted  and  passed  out  through  the  open  gates, 
and  the  drawbridge  clanged  to  behind  him. 

As  he  rode,  wondering,  from  that  deserted  castle, 
he  saw  a  maiden  making  a  sad  moan  over  the 
body  of  a  dead  knight.  She  accosted  him,  saying, 
"  Sir  stranger,  where  go  you  ?  " 

Sir  Perceval  answered  her :  "  Damsel,  I  know 
not.  I  come  from  a  most  strange  adventure  even 
now."     Then  he  told  her  all  his  story. 

The  damsel  said,  "  Alas,  poor  knight,  great 
sorrow  have  you  wrought  for  all  the  land  of 
Britain,  and  for  the  lord  of  the  castle,  whose 
name  is  King  Fisherman.  Because  that  you 
failed  to  ask  the  meaning  of  the  wonders  that 
you  saw,  while  you  sat  at  meat  with  the  king,  he 
will  not  be  healed  of  the  lance-thrust  that  he  bears 
in  his  thigh.  All  the  land  of  Britain  will  suffer 
misfortunes,  for  wars  and  treason  will  break  forth, 
and  the  Round  Table  of  Arthur  and  his  knights 
be  broken,  and  all  they  dispersed. 

Then  Sir  Perceval  was  sad  at  heart,  and  rode 
away,  troubled  and  perplexed. 


106  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 


3.    KING   ARTHUR  RIDES  TO  THE  FOREST 
ADVENTUROUS. 

One  Ascension  Day,  at  Cardoil,  after  King  Arthur 
had  risen  from  table,  he  saw  that  the  queen  was 
seated  at  a  window  at  the  far  end  of  the  hall. 
The  king  went  and  sat  beside  her,  and  as  he  looked 
into  her  face  he  saw  that  tears  were  falling  from 
her  eyes. 

"  Dear  lady,"  said  the  king,  "  wherefore  do  you 
weep?" 

"  Ah !  my  king,"  said  Guinevere,  "  by  good  right 
I  weep.  Our  knights  speak  ill  of  us  because  that 
you  stay  by  me,  and  no  more  ride  on  adventures. 
Our  knights  of  your  Round  Table  likewise  have 
turned  away  from  their  famous  deeds,  and  your 
court  is  no  more  the  glory  of  the  land." 

"  Alas,  lady,"  said  the  king,  "  you  say  true." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  queen,  "were  you  to  go  to  the 
chapel  that  is  in  the  White  Forest,  which  may 
be  found  by  perilous  adventure  only,  you  would 
get  such  good  counsel  that  the  old  days  of  honor 
and  glory  would  return." 

"Lady,"  said  the  king,  "willingly  I  go,  and  alone, 
fco  visit  the  holy  hermit  in  the  White  Forest." 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE  HOLY   GRAIL.       107 

The  next  morning  King  Arthur  armed  himself 
to  go  to  the  chapel.  "  Sir,"  said  the  queen  to 
him,  "  God  be  your  guard,  and  grant  you  a  safe 
return,  and  that  you  accomplish  great  deeds. 
Then  shall  your  praise  be  lifted  up,  which  now 
is  cast  down." 

"Lady,"  said  the  king,  "God  be  with  you." 

Then  the  king  mounted  his  war  horse  at  the 
mounting-stage  and  rode  off. 

The  queen  was  at  the  windows  when  the  king 
departed,  and  she  said  to  the  knights  around  her, 
"What  think  you  of  the  king?  Is  he  not  a 
goodly  man?" 

"  Truly,  lady,"  they  answered,  "  and  a  pity  it 
is  that  he  should  not  continue  as  he  began,  for  no 
king  knoweth  better  of  all  courtesy  and  knight- 
hood than  he;  and  his  court  was  more  famous 
than  any  that  ever  was." 

Arthur  rode  all  day  at  a  great  pace  till  he  came 
to  the  borders  of  the  Forest  Adventurous.  About 
evensong  he  found  himself  in  the  heart  of  the 
forest,  and  saw  before  him  a  little  house.  He 
rode  up  to  it  and  dismounted,  and  drew  his  horse 
in  after  him  to  the  house.  Then  he  looked  around 
and  saw  barley  and  hay,  so  he  took  off  the  bridle 
and   laid   food   before  the   horse.     Then  he  went 


108  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

out  by  the  door  and  locked  it.  Outside  he  saw  a 
chapel,  and  near  by,  under  a  leafy  tree,  a  damsel 
sitting,  holding  in  her  hand  the  reins  of  her  mule. 

The  king  saluted  her,  and  said,  "  Damsel,  God 
give  you  joy  and  good  adventure." 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  so  may  He  do  to  you." 

"  Fair  damsel,  is  there  no  castle  in  this  forest  ?  " 

"No,"  said  the  damsel,  "only  this  Chapel  of 
the  White  Forest,  which  you  see." 

"  Ah  !  is  this  the  Chapel  of  the  White  Forest  ?  " 
asked  the  king. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  damsel,  "  but  this  forest  is  so 
perilous  that  no  knight  ever  leaveth  it  alive  and 
uninjured.  But  the  aid  and  counsel  he  shall  get 
in  the  chapel  is  of  so  great  worth  that,  ever  after, 
he  who  receives  it  shall  live  a  glorious  life.  The 
Lord  God  guard  your  body,  for  never  before  have 
I  seen  so  goodly  a  knight,  and  great  pity  would 
it  be  if  you  were  not  so  worthy  as  you  seem. 
Now  shall  I  never  leave  this  place  till  I  have  seen 
what  your  end  may  be." 

Then  Arthur  went  to  enter  the  chapel,  but  he 
could  not.  And  as  he  stood,  he  heard  as  if  it 
were  the  voices  of  angels  singing  inside.  When 
their  voices  died  away,  the  door  opened  and  the 
hermit   came   out.     "  Sir,"  he    said   to   the  king, 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       109 

"  now  you  may  enter,  and  much  cause  for  joy  you 
would  have  had,  had  you  been  allowed  to  enter 
the  chapel  and  hear  mass." 

They  entered  the  chapel  and  talked  long  to- 
gether. The  holy  hermit  knew  well  to  whom  he 
was  talking.  He  had  known  and  counseled  King 
Uther  Pendragon,  Arthur's  father,  before  him. 
Arthur  heard  many  things,  and  his  heart  burned 
within  him  at  the  words  of  the  holy  man.  The 
hermit  left  him  praying  in  the  chapel,  and  there 
he  prayed  all  the  night. 


4.   THE  BLACK  RIDER. 

The  next  morning  King  Arthur  mounted  his 
horse  and  went  his  way,  and  the  damsel  rode  be- 
hind him  on  her  mule.  He  had  not  gone  far, 
when  he  saw  a  knight  riding  against  him.  The 
knight  sat  upon  a  great  black  horse  with  flying 
mane,  and  he  carried  a  black  shield  and  spear. 
The  spear  was  thickened  towards  the  point  and 
burned  with  a  devouring  flame,  very  foul  and 
hideous.  He  set  his  spear  in  rest  and  thought  he 
could  easily  smite  the  king;  but  Arthur  swerved 
aside  and  the  Black  Rider  passed  beyond  him. 


110  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

"Wherefore  do  you  hate  me?"  asked  the 
king. 

"Because  now  no  man  loves  you,  and  I  defy 
you  as  my  mortal  enemy,"  was  the  reply.  Saying 
this,  the  Black  Rider  drew  back  so  that  his  onset 
might  be  more  sturdy. 

The  king  saw  that  he  could  not  escape  a  fight 
with  this  man,  so  he,  too,  set  his  spear  in  rest  and 
held  himself  ready.  The  other  came  towards  him 
swiftly,  and  Arthur  set  his  spurs  as  hard  as  he 
could  and  dashed  to  meet  him.  They  rushed  to- 
gether so  roughly  that  both  their  spears  bent 
almost  double,  but  without  breaking,  and  both 
were  shifted  back  in  their  saddles  and  lost  their 
stirrups.  They  had  come  with  such  a  shock 
that  stars  sparkled  before  their  eyes,  and  each 
one  drew  off  a  space  to  get  his  breath  again. 

The  king  looked  at  the  burning  spear,  marvel- 
ing that  it  had  not  snapped  in  pieces  from  the 
blow  it  had  received,  and  he  feared  that  perhaps 
it  belonged  to  a  fiend. 

The  Black  Rider  had  no  mind  to  let  Arthur 
off,  but  rode  at  him  again  as  hard  as  before. 
The  king  saw  him  coming  and  held  himself 
covered  with  his  shield  because  of  the  flame,  and 
received  the  onslaught  on  the  point  of  his  spear. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       Ill 

The  other  bent  back  and  was  borne  almost  out  of 
his  saddle,  but  leaping  back  over  the  crupper,  he 
smote  Arthur  such  a  blow  that  the  king  nearly 
lost  his  seat.  Then  the  Black  Rider's  lance 
pierced  the  king's  shield  at  the  boss,  and  the 
burning  point  entered  the  sleeve  of  his  coat  of 
mail  and  ran  the  sharp  iron  into  his  arm. 

The  king  was  wild  with  rage  when  he  felt  the 
burning  heat  of  his  wound,  but  his  enemy  drew 
back  rejoicing.  Then  King  Arthur  looked  and 
saw  that  the  spear  was  no  longer  burning. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Black  Rider,  "  I  cry  you  mercy." 

"  Now  may  God  help  me  to  destroy  you,"  said 
the  king.  He  went  at  him  with  such  force  that 
his  spear  entered  two  or  three  inches  into  the 
Black  Rider's  breast,  and  bore  him  and  his  horse 
to  the  ground  in  a  heap.  Then  he  drew  back  his 
spear  and  left  his  foe  lying  on  the  ground,  dead, 
and  rode  towards  the  entrance  to  the  forest,  where 
sat  the  damsel. 

As  he  went  he  heard  a  clashing  of  many  knights 
riding  up,  and  presently  saw  twenty  or  more  come 
up  to  the  dead  body.  They  made  loud  lamenta- 
tion when  they  saw  it. 

King  Arthur  rode  fast  to  the  entrance  to  go 
out  of  the  forest,  but  the  damsel  stopped  him,  say- 


112  HEROES  OF  CHIYALEY. 

ing,  "  Sir,  for  God's  sake,  turn  back  and  fetch  me 
the  head  of  him  who  lies  there  dead." 

The  king  looked  back,  and  seeing  the  great 
company  of  Black  Knights,  said,  "Damsel,  I  see 
that  you  would  have  me  slain." 

"Truly  sir,"  she  replied,  "I  would  not;  but 
great  need  is  there  that  I  should  have  the  head." 

"  Damsel,"  returned  Arthur,  "  I  am  sorely 
wounded  in  the  arm  which   holds   my  shield." 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  I  know  it  well,  nor  will  you 
ever  be  healed  of  it,  unless  you  bring  me  the  head 
of  that  man." 

"Damsel,  I  will  go  back  and  see  what  shall 
happen,"  said  Arthur. 

Then  he  turned  back  and  saw  that  those  Black 
Knights  had  cut  him  who  was  slain  all  in  pieces, 
and  that  each  was  carrying  off  some  portion. 
And  he  saw  the  last  knight  bearing  the  head  on 
the  point  of  his  spear.  The  king  went  after  him 
at  a  gallop,  and  cried  out,  "  Sir  Knight,  stay 
awhile  and  speak  to  me." 

"  What  is  your  pleasure  ?  "  asked  the  knight. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  king,  "  I  beseech  you  to  give 
me  the  head  you  carry  on  your  spear." 

"  I  will  give  it  to  you  on  one  condition." 

u  What  condition  ?"  said  Arthur. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       113 

"  That  you  tell  me  who  slew  the  Black  Rider.' 

"  Will  you  not  give  it  me  without  ? "  said  the 
king. 

"  No,"  said  he. 

"  Then  know  that  King  Arthur  slew  him." 

"  Where  is  he  ?  "  said  the  knight. 

"  Seek  him  until  you  find  him,"  said  King  Arthur. 
u  I  have  told  you  the  very  truth  ;  give  me  the  head." 

"Willingly,"  said  the  knight,  and  he  lowered 
his  spear,  and  the  king  took  the  head  and  rode 
off  with  it  toward  the  damsel. 

The  knight  had  a  horn  around  his  neck,  and  he 
sounded  a  ringing  blast.  Then  the  other  knights 
came  to  him  and  asked  why  he  had  sounded  it. 
"  For  this,"  he  said ;  "  that  knight  told  me  that 
King  Arthur  slew  the  Black  Rider,  and  I  would 
that  we  all  follow  him." 

"  That  we  will  not,"  said  they.  "  That  is  King 
Arthur  himself,  and  we  have  no  power  to  harm 
him  now  that  he  hath  passed  the  entrance  to  the 
forest.  But  you  shall  be  sorry  that  you  yourself 
did  not  slay  him  when  he  was  in  your  power." 
Then  they  rushed  at  him  and  slew  him,  and  cut 
him  in  pieces  as  they  had  done  the  other. 

By  this  time  King  Arthur  had  come  to  the 
damsel.     "  I  thank  you,  Sir  Knight,"  said  she. 


114  HEKOES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

u  You  are  welcome,"  said  Arthur. 

"Now  you  may  alight  from  your  horse,"  said 
the  damsel,  "for  beyond  this  entrance  you  are 
safe." 

When  he  was  off  his  horse,  the  damsel  carefully 
undid  his  breastplate,  saying,  "  Now  I  will  heal 
your  wound,  for  by  no  one  else  can  it  be  healed." 

Then  she  washed  his  wound  with  the  blood  from 
the  dead  knight,  saying :  a  Never  in  this  world 
could  you  have  been  healed  except  by  this,  and 
this  is  why  those  knights  have  carried  off  his  body 
piecemeal.  Now,"  she  continued,  "  it  is  right  that 
you  tell  me  your  name." 

"  Damsel,"  said  the  king,  "  they  that  know  me 
call  me  Arthur." 

"  Is  that  in  truth  your  name  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  lady,"  he  replied. 

"  Then  it  is  pity,"  said  she,  "  for  never  have  I 
seen  a  better  knight  than  you,  and  I  would  not 
that  your  name  should  be  the  same  as  that  of  a 
king  who  has  turned  from  his  glorious  ways  into 
sloth." 

"  I  am  sorry,"  said  the  king  ;  "  but  I  have  heard 
that  in  the  beginning  he  did  right  well." 

u  Who  cares,"  said  she,  "  for  his  good  beginning, 
if  his  end  is  bad  ?     Very  sorry  I  am  that  so  true 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY  GEAIL        115 

and  great  a  knight  as  you  should  have  the  name 
of  a  slothful  king." 

"  Damsel,"  returned  the  king,  "  a  man  is  not 
good  because  of  his  name,  but  because  of  heart." 

With  this  the  king  mounted  again  and  entered 
into  the  high  forest,  and  rode  as  fast  as  he  could 
back  to  his  castle.  When  he  had  ridden  a  long  way, 
he  heard  a  voice  which  said :  "  King  Arthur,  Lord 
of  Great  Britain,  rejoice  at  what  I  am  sent  to  say 
to  you  this  day.  God  hath  sent  me  to  bid  you 
hold  your  court  as  soon  as  may  be,  that  your  king- 
dom, which  suffered  through  your  slackness,  may 
perchance  again  be  zealous  in  well-doing,  and  all 
the  ill  be  healed." 

The  heart  of  the  king  was  glad,  and  at  last  he 
reached  Cardoil.  Great  were  the  rejoicings  of  his 
people  at  his  return.  Then  he  told  the  queen  all 
his  adventures,  and  showed  her  his  wound  which 
now  began  to  heal  well. 

"  Sore  pain  and  trouble  have  you  had,  dear  lord," 
she  said. 

"  Lady,  in  such  a  manner  a  true  knight  should 
willingly  suffer,  that  he  may  have  honor,  for  only 
by  long  endurance  may  men  come  to  honor." 

"God  be  praised,"  said  the  queen,  "that  you 
say  so." 


116        HEROES  OF  CHI V ALE Y. 


5.  THE  BALD  DAMSEL. 

Now  King  Arthur  was  at  Cardoil  with  the  queen 
and  a  few  knights  when  they  heard  the  tidings  of  the 
vision  of  Dindrane.  The  wish  surged  up  strongly 
in  the  heart  of  the  king  to  win  fame  and  honor,  as 
in  the  days  gone  by,  for  himself  and  his  Knights  of 
the  Round  Table.  He  sent  messengers  throughout 
all  his  lands  and  islands,  to  take  word  to  the  barons 
and  knights,  that  were  scattered  in  their  castles, 
that  he  would  hold  his  court  on  the  shores  of 
the  Welsh  Sea,  at  the  feast  of  St.  John.  The 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table,  who  had  been  loung- 
ing idle  and  discontented,  were  very  joyful,  and 
came  back  to  the  court  quickly. 

St.  John's  Day  broke  fair  and  clear,  and  the  air 
was  fresh.  The  hall  in  the  king's  palace  was  wide 
and  high,  and  filled  again  with  good  knights  in 
plenty.  The  tables  were  spread  with  white  cloths, 
on  which  were  laid  rare  dishes  filled  with  rich 
meats.  The  sun  shone  through  the  windows,  and 
the  floor  was  strewn  with  flowers  and  rushes  and 
sweet  herbs,  which  smelled  as  though  they  had 
been  sprinkled  with  balm. 

Sir  Kay  the  seneschal  and  Sir  Gawain  the  con- 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       117 

stable  of  the  king's  estates  served  that  day  at  the 
tables,  and  five-and-twenty  other  knights  besides. 
Sir  Lucan,  the  butler,  carried  the  golden  cup 
before  the  king.  There  was  great  rejoicing  among 
them  all,  and  it  seemed  once  more  as  if  the  old 
happy  days  before  they  grew  slothful  had  returned. 

Now  it  was  the  custom  of  Arthur  and  his 
knights  when  they  were  at  the  Round  Table,  not  to 
rise  after  their  meal  until  some  adventure  befell. 
On  this  occasion,  after  the  first  co'irse  had  been 
served,  and  they  were  yet  awaiting  the  second, 
suddenly  three  damsels  entered  the  hall. 

The  first  that  came  was  mounted  upon  a  mule, 
white  as  driven  snow,  which  she  guided  by  a 
golden  bridle.  She  sat  upon  a  saddle,  the  bow  of 
which  was  of  ivory  inlaid  with  gold  and  gems,  and 
the  saddlecloth  was  of  red  samite  shot  through 
with  gold.  The  body  of  this  damsel  was  very 
comely,  but  her  face  was  not  fair.  She  was  clothed 
in  robes  of  silk  and  gold,  and  she  wore  a  rich  hat 
which  covered  the  whole  of  her  head.  It,  too, 
was  all  loaded  with  costly  stones  that  flamed  like 
fire. 

Truly  it  was  well  that  her  head  was  all  covered 
by  the  hat  she  wore,  for  she  was  without  any  hair. 
She  carried  her  right  arm  slung  from  her  neck  in 


118  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

a  sling  of  golden  cloth.  Her  arm  lay  on  a  rich 
pillow,  the  richest  that  was  ever  seen,  and  all 
ronnd  the  pillow  was  hung  with  many  little  golden 
bells.  But  alas  !  in  her  hand  she  held  the  head  of 
a  king,  sealed  with  silver  and  crowned  with  gold. 

The  next  damsel  that  came  rode  after  the  first 
in  the  fashion  of  a  squire.  At  her  neck  she  carried 
a  shield  banded  with  silver  and  blue,  and  on  it  was 
a  scarlet  cross.  The  boss  of  the  shield  was  of 
solid  gold  set  with  precious  stones. 

The  third  damsel  came  on  foot,  with  her  skirts 
tucked  up  like  those  of  a  running  footman.  She 
had  in  her  hand  a  whip  with  which  she  drove  the 
two  mules  of  the  other  damsels.  Each  of  the  last 
two  maidens  was  more  fair  than  the  first,  but  she 
that  ran  on  foot  was  fairest  by  far  of  them  all. 

The  first  damsel  came  before  the  king,  where  he 
sat.  u  Sir,"  said  she,  "  the  Saviour  of  the  world 
grant  you  honor  and  joy  and  good  adventure,  and 
my  lady,  the  queen,  and  all  that  sit  in  this  hall 
for  love  of  you.  Think  it  not  rude  that  I  alight 
not,  for  I  have  made  a  vow  that  where  knights 
are  I  will  not  alight,  nor  shall  I  ever,  till  such  time 
as  the  Holy  Grail  is  found. " 

"  Damsel,"  said  the  king,  "  do  as  seemeth  best 
to  you." 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       119 

"  Sir,"  said  the  damsel,  "  I  thank  you,  and  I 
pray  you  not  to  be  offended  at  the  errand  on  which 
I  am  come." 

"  Fear  not,  but  speak  what  you  will,"  said  the 
king. 

u  Sir,"  said  she,  "  the  shield  that  this  damsel 
beareth  belonged  to  Joseph,  the  good  soldier 
knight  who  took  down  our  Lord's  body  from  hang- 
ing on  the  cross.  I  present  it  to  you  after  the 
manner  that  I  shall  tell  you  of;  namely,  that 
you  guard  the  shield  for  a  knight  that  shall  come 
hither  to  seek  for  it.  You  shall  let  it  hang  on  this 
column  in  the  midst  of  your  hall,  and  guard  it  care- 
fully so  that  none  may  be  able  to  take  it,  but  he 
only.  With  this  shield  shall  he  find  the  Holy 
Grail." 

"Damsel,"  said  the  king,  "the  shield  will  I 
keep  full  safely,  and  right  heartily  do  I  thank  you 
that  you  have  deigned  to  bring  it  hither." 

"Sir  King,"  replied  the  damsel,  "I  thank  you; 
we  will  now  go  our  way,  for  here  have  we  stayed 
long  enough." 

The  king  commanded  Sir  Gawain,  and  he  took 
the  shield  from  the  damsel's  neck  and  hung  it  on  a 
column  in  the  midst  of  the  hall.  The  damsel  took 
her  leave,  and  the  king  commended  her  to  God. 


120  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

Then  the  king  and  all  they  who  were  with  him 
went  to  lean  out  of  the  windows  and  look  at  the 
three  damsels  and  the  three'  white  harts  that  drew 
the  car  that  came  with  them.  The  greater  part  said 
that  the  damsel  that  went  on  foot  after  the  two 
that  were  mounted  must  have  the  most  misease. 
The  bald  damsel  that  went  before  had  taken  off  her 
hat,  and  put  it  not  on  her  head  until  she  came  to 
enter  the  forest,  and  the  knights  that  were  at  the 
windows  could  see  them  no  longer.  Then  she 
placed  her  hat  upon  her  head. 

The  king,  the  queen,  and  the  knights,  when 
they  could  see  them  no  more,  came  down  from  the 
windows,  and  many  of  them  said  that  never  until 
this  time  had  they  seen  a  bald-headed  damsel. 


6.   DINDRANE   AND    SIR   PERCEVAL  AT   THE 
PALACE   OF   THE   KING. 

Soon  after  this  King  Arthur  sat  with  Queen 
Guinevere  by  his  side,  and,  as  they  looked  out, 
they  saw  a  damsel  alight  from  her  horse  before  the 
palace  and  come  up  the  steps  leading  to  the  hall. 
When  she  had  come  before  the  king  and  the 
queen,  she  said :  "  Sir,  I  salute  you,  who  am  the 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY  GRAIL.       121 

most  forlorn  and  unhappy  damsel  you  have  ever 
seen.  I  ask  a  boon  of  the  nobleness  and  valor  of 
your  heart." 

"  Damsel,"  said  the  king,  "  God  counsel  you, 
and  I  myself  will  gladly  help  you." 

The  maid  looked  at  the  shield  that  hung  in  the 
hall.  "  Sir,"  said  she,  u  I  beseech  you,  grant  that 
I  may  receive  aid  from  the  knight  who  shall  bear 
this  shield  away." 

"  Damsel,"  said  the  king,  "  gladly,  if  the  knight 
himself  so  wills  it." 

"Sir,"  said  Dindrane,  —  for  it  was  she  who 
asked  the  boon,  —  "if  he  be  as  good  a  knight 
as  he  is  reported  to  be,  he  will  not  refuse.  Had 
I  found  my  brother  whom  I  am  seeking,  I  should 
have  been  helped  long  ago.  I  have  sought  him 
in  many  lands,  but  I  have  never  found  him." 

Then  the  king  made  the  damsel  sit  at  table  with 
them  and  showed  her  much  honor.  When  the  meal 
was  over,  the  queen  led  her  into  her  own  chamber 
and  comforted  her.  The  queen  was  very  kind  to 
the  damsel,  for  she  was  of  great  beauty,  and  it 
could  easily  be  seen  that  she  was  full  of  sorrow. 

That  night  the  king  woke  from  his  first  sleep 
and  could  not  sleep  again.  He  rose  and  put  on  a 
great  gray  mantle,  and  went  forth  from  his  bed- 


122  HEROES   OF  CHIVALBY. 

chamber  and  came  to  the  windows  of  the  hall  that 
opened  toward  the  sea,  which  lay  calm  and  un- 
troubled before  him.  He  had  so  much  pleasure 
in  it  that  he  stayed  long,  leaning  at  the  window 
looking  out. 

When  he  had  been  some  time  there,  he  saw  far 
away  on  the  sea  a  light  shining.  He  wondered, 
and  as  he  looked  he  saw  that  it  wras  coming 
toward  him,  for  it  grew  larger  and  larger,  and 
more  bright.  Then  he  saw  that  it  was  a  ship 
from  which  the  light  shone,  coming  with  a  swift 
rushing  toward  his  castle.  One  old  man  held  the 
rudder.  The  deck  was  covered  with  rich  cloth,  and 
the  sail  was  lowered,  for  the  sea  wTas  calm  and 
quiet.  Swiftly  the  ship  came  to  the  walls  of  the 
palace  and  stopped. 

Then  the  king  Went  down  to  get  into  the  ship, 
but  he  could  not.  The  old  man  that  held  the  rud- 
der said,  "  Stay  awhile,"  and  he  launched  a  little 
boat  and  the  king  entered  it  and  came  to  the  ship. 
Inside  he  found  a  knight  who  was  lying  on  an  ivory 
table,  armed,  with  his  shield  at  his  head.  The 
king  thought  that  he  had  never  seen  so  beautiful  a 
knight. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  master  of  the  ship,  "  let  him 
rest ;  he  is  in  sore  need  of  it." 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GEAIL.       123 

"  Will  he  leave  before  he  comes  to  the  palace  ?  " 
asked  the  king. 

"  Not  before  he  hath  entered  the  hall,"  said  the 
old  man. 

The  king  was  glad,  and  hastened  to  tell  the 
queen ;  and  the  queen  rose  and  clothed  herself  in 
silken  robes  trimmed  with  ermine,  and  waited  with 
two  damsels  and  the  king  in  the  great  hall. 

Presently  the  knight  came  in  all  armed,  and  the 
old  man  with  him,  bearing  two  candlesticks  of 
gold  in  front  of  him. 

"  Sir  Knight,  you  are  welcome,"  said  the  queen. 

"  Lady 9  God  grant  you  joy,"  said  the  knight. 
Then  he  walked  across  the  hall  and  took  down  the 
shield  that  hung  on  the  pillar  in  the  midst  of  the 
hall,  and  passed  away  toward  the  entrance. 

"  Lady,"  said  the  king  to  his  fair  queen,  "  pray 
the  knight  to  stay  with  us." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  knight,  "  I  can  make  no  stay 
now ;  but  some  day  you  shall  see  me  again." 

Then  he  passed  into  the  ship,  and  the  old  man 
drew  in  the  boat,  and  the  ship  bore  them  swiftly 
away,  leaving  the  castle  behind.  The  king  and 
the  queen  were  very  sorrowful  that  the  unknown 
knight  would  make  no  stay  with  them,  and  they 
were  astonished  at  what  they  had  seen. 


124  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

Then  Dindrane  came  into  the  hall;  and  seeing 
quickly  that  the  shield  was  gone,  she  said,  u  Sir, 
did  you  speak  for  me  to  the  knight  ?  " 

"  Damsel,"  answered  the  king,  "  to  my  sorrow, 
he  departed  sooner  than  I  thought,  and  I  did  not 
mind  me  of  my  promise." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  maid,  "  you  have  done  me  a 
wrong."  And  the  king  was  very  sorrowful  that 
he  had  not  remembered  his  promise  to  the  damsel. 
She  went  her  way  from  the  court,  saying  that  she 
herself  must  go  and  seek  the  knight,  and  that  if 
she  foimd  him,  she  would  hold  the  king  blameless. 

But  when  Sir  Lancelot  came  back  and  saw  the 
shield  the  knight  had  left  instead  of  the  one  he 
took  from  the  column,  he  said,  "  Now  I  know  that 
Sir  Perceval  has  been  here,  for  this  is  the  shield  he 
has  often  borne,  and  his  father  before  him." 


7.    THE   SEAT   PERILOUS. 

Again  it  was  Whitsuntide  at  King  Arthur's 
court,  and  early  in  the  morning  the  king  and  the 
queen  and  all  their  knights  went  to  the  minster  to 
attend  high  mass.  Afterward  they  made  a  feast 
in  the  great  Hall  of  the  Round  Table.     Now  the 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GKAIL.       125 

place  of  every  knight  bore  his  name,  written  in 
letters  of  gold.  But  there  was  one  seat  in  which 
no  man  had  ever  yet  proved  himself  worthy  to 
sit ;  it  was  called  the  "  Seat  Perilous."  He  to 
whom  it  should  lawfully  belong  would  do  many 
great  deeds,  and  be  more  pure  and  true  in  his  life 
than  any  other  knight  in  all  the  world. 

Arthur  and  his  knights  were  sitting,  as  was  their 
wont,  each  in  his  own  seat,  when  a  strange  thing 
came  to  pass. 

The  doors  and  windows  of  the  great  hall  sud- 
denly shut  by  themselves,  with  a  great  noise,  and 
yet  the  hall  was  filled  with  a  strange,  clear  light. 
Then  the  king  and  all  his  knights  sat  silent  from 
surprise.  After  a  time  the  king  spoke,  and  said, 
"  Great  lords  and  fair  companions,  we  have  this 
day  ^een  a  marvelous  thing  happen,  yet  before 
night  I  ween  we  shall  see  a  greater." 

And  behold !  before  the  king  had  finished  speak- 
ing, an  old,  old  man  came  into  the  hall,  clothed 
in  white  garments.  He  led  by  the  hand  a  youthful 
knight  without  sword  or  shield,  armed  in  red  armor. 
The  old  man  greeted  the  company,  saying,  "  Peace 
be  with  you,  fair  lords."  Then,  turning  to  the 
young  knight,  he  said,  "  Sir,  follow  me." 

He  brought  him  up  the  long  hall  to  the  seat 


126  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

beside  Sir  Lancelot.  Lo !  on  the  seat  they  saw 
written  in  letters  of  bright,  new  gold,  "  This  is  the 
seat  of  Sir  Galahad,  the  good  knight."  Then  the 
young  knight  sat  him  down  in  the  seat,  and  all 
the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  wondered  that  he 
dared  to  sit  there,  for  it  was  the  Seat  Perilous. 
They  said,  "  Surely  this  is  a  great  knight,  and 
one  through  whom  the  Holy  Grail  will  be  achieved, 
for  no  man  ever  sat  safely  in  that  seat  before." 

Then  Arthur  decreed  that  all  the  knights  should 
meet  together  and  joust  in  the  broad  green  meadow 
near  the  hall,  for  he  wished  to  try  the  mettle  and 
prowess  of  this  new  young  knight.  All  the  knights 
were  filled  with  wonder  at  what  had  happened. 
And  the  king  commanded  that  a  fair  shield  and 
a  mighty  sword  be  given  to  the  young  knight,  so 
that  with  it  he  might  defend  his  cause  in  the 
tournament;  and  it  wTas  done  as  Arthur  com- 
manded. 

When  the  feast  was  ended,  they  went  to  the 
green  meadow,  where  the  lists  had  been  duly 
made  ready.  That  day's  jousting  was  remembered 
long  in  story,  wherever  the  history  of  the  Holy 
Grail  was  sung  or  told.  Men  marveled  at  the 
prowess  of  the  young  knight,  for  he  did  more 
than   all   the    others   of  the   king's   men.      In   a 


Sir  Galahad. 


From  the  Painting  by  G.  F.  Watts. 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE  HOLY   GRAIL.       129 

short  space  he  had  thrown  down  all  the  knights, 
except  Sir  Lancelot,  Sir  Gawain,  Sir  Perceval,  and 
Sir  Bors. 

After  the  jousts  were  over,  the  king  and  the 
queen  and  all  the  company  went  to  evensong  in 
the  quiet  minster,  and  then  to  supper  in  the  great 
hall. 


8.   THE  KNIGHTS   TAKE  VOWS  TO   SEEK  THE 
GRAIL. 

While  King  Arthur  and  his  fellowship  were 
seated  at  supper,  they  heard  the  loud  cracking  of 
thunder  and  the  howling  of  a  strong  wind,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  the  hall  would  be  blown  down.  Sud- 
denly, in  the  midst  of  the  storm,  a  flashing  light 
shone  into  the  hall,  more  bright  by  far  than  the 
light  of  the  sun  at  midday.  They  all  looked  at 
one  another  with  wondering  looks,  and  found  that 
each  was  more  fair  by  far  than  he  had  ever  been 
before.     They  all  sat  silent  as  if  they  were  dumb. 

In  the  silence  there  came  floating  into  the  hall 
the  Holy  Grail,  veiled  in  cloth  of  white  samite,  and 
none  could  see  who  bore  it.  The  hall  was  filled 
with  refreshing  odors,  and  sounds  of  sweet  music 
trembled  through  the  air.     When  it  had  floated  all 


130  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

up  the  long  hall,  it  suddenly  departed,  and  no  man 
could  tell  what  had  become  of  it. 

Then  said  Sir  Gawain :  "  Alas !  we  could  not  see 
the  Grail,  it  was  so  closely  covered.  Therefore  I 
make  this  vow :  To-morrow,  for  a  year  and  a  day, 
I  shall  depart  on  the  quest  of  the  Holy  Grail,  and 
for  longer  if  need  be ;  and  never  will  I  return  to 
this  court  until  I  have  seen  the  Holy  Grail  more 
openly  than  at  this  time." 

When  the  other  knights  heard  Sir  Gawain  say 
this,  they  arose,  the  greater  part  of  them,  and 
made  the  same  vow. 

Then  the  king  was  very  sad  at  heart,  and  said : 
"Alas,  Sir  Gawain,  you  have  almost  killed  me 
with  the  vow  and  promise  that  you  have  taken. 
Surely  you  have  bereft  me  of  the  fairest  fellow- 
ship of  men  and  the  truest  knighthood  ever 
gathered  together  in  any  kingdom  of  this  world. 
When  they  depart  hence,  very  sure  am  I  that 
never  again  shall  we  all  meet  together,  for  many 
will  die  far  away,  not  having  achieved  the  Grail. 
I  have  loved  them  as  well  as  my  life,  and  it  grieves 
me  to  the  heart  to  have  this  my  fellowship  broken." 
And  the  tears  fell  from  his  eyes,  and  he  said,  "  Sir 
Gawain,  Sir  Gawain,  you  have  brought  much  sor- 
row upon  me  and  upon  our  kingdom." 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY  GRAIL.       131 

Then  Sir  Lancelot  strove  to  comfort  him,  saying, 
"  Comfort  yourself,  my  king,  for  it  will  be  great 
honor  to  us  all  if  we  die  in  this  quest,  much  more 
than  if  we  die  in  any  other,  and  of  death  we  may 
all  be  sure  at  the  last." 

When  the  queen  and  her  gentlewomen  heard 
of  the  vows  that  the  knights  had  taken  on  them, 
they  were  very  sorrowful,  for  no  knight  might  take 
his  lady  with  him  on  that  quest,  but  each  must  go 
alone  on  the  way  that  he  should  choose.  Then  at 
last  they  all  went  to  rest  after  the  marvels  of  the 
day. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dawn  the  king  rose  up,  for 
he  had  had  no  rest  all  that  night  for  sorrow, 
and  went  to  Sir  Gawain  and  Sir  Lancelot  and 
found  them  risen  to  hear  mass.  "  Sir  Gawain, 
Sir  Gawain,"  said  the  king  again,  "you  have 
brought  me  much  sorrow."  Then  he  took  coun- 
sel with  them  to  see  if  in  any  way  the  vows 
might  be  undone.  "  But  I  know  well,"  said  the 
king,  "  it  cannot  be ;  now  that  so  many  good 
knights  have  sworn  it,  they  may  in  no  wise  leave 
the  quest." 

So  the  king  and  the  queen  went  with  them 
all  together  to  the  minster.  After  the  service 
was  done,  they  counted  and  found  that  an  hun- 


132  HEEOES  OF  CHIVALRY. 

dred  and  fifty  knights  had  sworn  to  go,  and 
they  were  all  of  the  Round  Table.  On  the  next 
day  they  were  of  one  mind  that  the  time  had 
come  when  they  should  depart,  and  every  knight 
set  forth  on  the  way  that  he  deemed  best. 


p.   THE  VISION   OF   SIR   GAWAIN. 

Interesting  as  it  would  be,  it  is,  of  course,  impos- 
sible for  us  to  follow  all  the  hundred  and  fifty 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table  on  their  adventures, 
as  they  rode  on  the  quest  of  the  Holy  Grail. 
Indeed,  many  of  the  old  stories  themselves  have 
been  lost ;  and  of  those  that  remain,  we  can  choose 
only  a  few. 

When  Sir  Gawain  had  left  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  he  rode  for  many  months  on  his  quest. 
During  this  time  he  encountered  many  strange 
and  perilous  adventures.  At  last  he  came  in  his 
wanderings  into  that  country  wThere  King  Fisher- 
man's castle  was. 

As  he  rode  one  day  through  a  great  forest,  he 
spied  through  the  trees  a  little  dwelling.  Near 
the  entrance,  under  a  small  tree,  he  saw  sitting  a 
noble  old  man,  with  clean-shaven  face  and  white 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       133 

hair,  dressed  as  a  hermit.  The  man  was  looking  at 
the  armor  of  a  knight  which  a  squire  had  brought 
to  show  him.  When  he  saw  Sir  Gawain,  he  rose 
up  and  said :  "  Fair  sir,  make  no  noise.  Lying 
within  my  dwelling,  sick  unto  death,  is  the  best 
knight  in  all  the  world.  It  may  be  we  shall  heal 
him.  Great  pity  would  it  be  to  all  this  land  if  he 
should  die." 

"  Sir,"  said  Gawain,  u  may  I  not  speak  with 
him?" 

"  Nay,"  said  the  hermit,  u  of  his  courtesy  he 
would  rise  from  his  couch,  and  that  would  be  the 
worse  for  him.  Therefore  I  keep  him  quiet  within 
my  house,  and  no  man  may  see  him." 

Gawain  was  troubled,  for  he  thought  it  might 
be  Perceval.  Then  the  hermit  asked  him  whither 
he  was  bound. 

"To  find  the  castle  of  King  Fisherman.  Can 
you  tell  me  by  what  way  one  should  go  to  find 
it?" 

"  Sir,"  said  the  hermit,  "  no  man  can  teach  you 
the  way ;  the  will  of  God  only  can  lead  you." 

Then  a  damsel  came  to  the  door  of  the  little 
house  and  called  low  to  the  hermit,  and,  taking 
leave  of  Sir  Gawain,  he  entered  the  house,  and 
closed  the  door. 


134  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Sir  Gawain  rode  off  mournfully,  for  he  would 
willingly  have  seen  the  best  knight  in  all  the 
world.  For  many  leagues  he  continued  his  jour- 
ney. The  forest  pleased  him  well,  the  birds  sang 
in  the  leafy  trees,  #nd  often  he  passed  a  little 
brook  flowing  between  flowery  banks  and  green 
open  spaces,  where  he  saw  the  deer  pass  by  in 
great  herds. 

He  rode  on  till  it  was  near  to  evensong.  The 
evening  was  fair  and  calm,  and  the  sun  was  about 
to  set  as  he  drew  near  the  edge  of  the  forest. 

Soon  he  came  to  a  peaceful  meadow  land,  and, 
looking  before  him,  he  saw  a  castle  on  a  mountain, 
near  the  forest.  It  was  inclosed  by  high  walls  with 
battlements,  and  within  were  noble  halls,  whose 
windows  showed  in  the  outer  walls.  In  the  midst 
was  an  ancient  tower  that  was  surrounded  by  a 
moat  and  meadow  lands.  The  entrance  to  the 
castle  lay  far  without.  As  he  looked,  he  saw  at 
the  gate  a  lion  lying  chained,  and  the  chain  was 
fixed  to  the  wall. 

Sir  Gawain  rode  slowly  up,  hardly  hoping  to 
enter,  because  of  the  lion  chained  at  the  gate.  He 
looked  up  to  the  top  of  the  walls  and  saw  people 
who  seemed  to  him  to  be  clothed  like  priests  and 
holy  men,  and  bald  and  ancient  knights  wearing 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       135 

what  seemed  garments  of  ancient  fashion.  In  each 
recess  of  the  wall  was  a  cross  and  a  little  chapel. 

Above  the  wall,  near  by  the  entrance  of  the 
great  hall,  was  another  chapel,  and  above  the 
chapel  was  a  tall,  golden  cross  glittering  in  the  set- 
ting sun.  On  either  side  were  two  smaller  crosses, 
rather  lower,  and  on  the  top  of  each  was  a  golden 
eagle.  The  priests  and  the  knights  upon  the 
walls  knelt  toward  the  chapel,  and  looked  up  to 
heaven,  praying. 

Sir  Gawain  looked  at  them  from  far  off,  and  to 
the  right  and  to  the  left  he  saw  no  way  by  which 
he  could  enter.  Then  he  saw  coming  from  the 
castle  toward  him  a  knight,  who  saluted  him, 
asking  him  what  he  wished. 

"  To  enter  the  castle  if  I  may."  And  Sir 
Gawain  asked  whose  the  castle  might  be. 

"The  castle  of  King  Fisherman,"  said  the 
knight. 

At  this  Sir  Gawain  leaped  from  his  horse  and 
knelt  down,  thanking  God  that  he  had  so  nearly 
succeeded  in  his  quest  of  the  Holy  Grail.  Then 
the  knight  led  him  over  the  bridges  and  in  at  the 
gates,  past  the  lion,  which  crouched  low  as  they 
passed.  As  he  mounted  a  flight  of  marble  steps 
into  the  high  hall,  a  great  light  shone  all  around, 


136  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

and  all  the  company  praised  God  aloud.  When 
Sir  Gawain  had  washed,  the  attendants  put  rich 
garments  on  him,  and  led  him  into  the  chamber 
of  King  Fisherman. 

The  lord  of  this  castle  and  of  the  chapel  wherein 
the  Grail  appeared  was  sick  unto  death.  He  lay 
on  a  bed  hung  with  cords,  and  on  it  was  a  mat- 
tress of  straw  and  a  coverlet  of  fine  sable  furs. 
On  his  head  he  had  a  cap  of  sable  and  red  samite, 
with  a  golden  cross  on  top.  Under  his  head  was 
a  pillow  smelling  sweetly  of  balm.  At  the  four 
corners  of  the  pillow  were  four  bright  stones, 
from  which  flashed  golden  light.  In  front  of  him 
stood  a  great  pillar  of  burnished  copper,  and  on 
it  sat  a  golden  eagle  holding  a  cross  of  gold,  into 
which  was  set  a  piece  of  the  True  Cross.  Before 
this  cross  the  good  old  king  prayed. 

The  king  made  Sir  Gawain  welcome  and  asked 
him  his  name. 

"  Sir,  my  name  is  Gawain,  a  nephew  of  King 
Arthur,  and  constable  of  all  his  lands." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  king,  "  this  radiant  light  that 
shines  here  around  us  comes  from  God  for  love 
of  you.  Every  time  a  good  knight  oomes  to  this 
castle,  the  light  shines,  as  you  see.  I  would 
gladly  make  great  rejoicings  for  you,  could  I  help 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY  GRAIL.       137 

myself;  but  I  have  fallen  very  sick,  because  a 
good  knight,  who  visited  me,  knew  not  what  he 
should  say  when  a  vision  of  the  Grail  came  be- 
fore him.  For  our  dear  Lord's  sake  take  heed 
that  you  are  careful  and  do  not  as  he  did;  for 
well  would  it  be  if  my  health  could  be  restored 
and  the  troublous  times  pass  away  from  this  land. 
Here  beside  me  is  Dindrane,  the  daughter  of  my 
brother,  Alain-li-gros.  She  has  been  plundered 
of  all  her  land,  and  she  will  never  get  it  back 
again  unless  Sir  Perceval  win  it  back  for  her. 
We  have  been  told  that  he  is  the  best  knight  in 
all  the  world,  bu^  we  can  gain  no  tidings  of  him. 

"Damsel,"  said  Sir  Gawain  to  Dindrane,  "I 
would  gladly  help  you  if  I  could,  and  I  would 
rather  see  your  brother  than  any  other  knight  in 
all  the  world.  I  have  no  tidings  of  him  except 
that,  as  I  journeyed,  a  long  while  after  I  had  left 
King  Arthur's  court,  I  was  at  a  hermitage  in  the 
forest ;  and  the  hermit  would  not  let  me  make  any 
noise,  or  even  enter  in.  '  For,'  he  said,  '  the  best 
knight  in  all  the  world  lies  sick  within.'  ' 

"  Sir,"  said  Dindrane,  "  those  who  have  seen 
my  brother  say  that  he  is  the  most  gracious  knight 
that  ever  was." 

"  In  truth,"  said  King  Fisherman,  "  I  never  saw 


138  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

a  better ;  but  good  came  not  to  me  through  his 
staying  with  me,  and  now  I  am  so  sick  I  can  help 
neither  myself  nor  others." 

Then  they  led  Sir  Gawain  back  into  the  hall 
and  seated  him  at  a  rich  table  of  ivory,  with 
twelve  knights  who  were  each  a  hundred  years 
old,  though  they  seemed  only  forty.  "  Sir,"  said 
the  master  of  the  knights,  "remember  what  the 
good  king  prayed  you  this  night." 

"Sir,"  answered  Sir  Gawain,  "I  will  do  my 
uttermost." 

Then  men  brought  venison  and  wild  boar's  flesh 
and  other  meats  in  great  abundance.  On  the  table 
were  rich  vessels  of  silver  and  great  cups  of  gold, 
and  high  candlesticks  with  great  candles  burning, 
though  the  bright  light  shining  in  the  hall  made 
them  seem  to  burn  dimly. 

Then,  behold  !  two  damsels  came  from  the  chapel, 
and  one  held  in  her  hand  the  most  Holy  Grail.  They 
walked  through  the  hall  where  Sir  Gawain  sat  eat- 
ing, and  so  sweet  and  holy  a  scent  came  to  him 
that  he  forgot  to  eat.  Sir  Gawain  gazed  at  the 
Grail ;  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  saw  the  vessel, 
though  it  was  covered  with  a  samite  cloth ;  and  it 
seemed  to  him  that  he  saw  two  angels  bearing  two 
golden  candlesticks  filled  with  lighted  candles. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       139 

Then  Sir  Gawain  became  so  thoughtful,  and 
such  great  joy  came  to  him,  that  he  remembered 
nothing  but  to  think  of  God  only,  and  he  spoke 
no  word,  but  sat  in  amaze.  The  knights  looked 
sadly  at  Sir  Gawain  and  slowly  left  the  room ;  and 
Sir  Gawain  slept  till  morning,  for  he  was  weary 
from  his  wanderings. 

When  he  awoke  the  next  morning,  the  doors 
were  all  fast  closed  round  him,  but  he  heard  a 
voice  saying,  "He  that  comes  from  without,  let 
him  go;  the  bridges  are  lowered  and  the  gates 
opened."  Then  a  damsel  came  into  the  hall,  and 
said  to  him :  "  Sir,  God  guard  you,  for  maybe  it 
was  not  your  own  fault  that  you  could  not  speak 
the  word  that  would  have  given  such  joy  in  this 
castle."  Then  Sir  Gawain  went  forth  sore  per- 
plexed, and  found  his  horse  ready  saddled  and 
bridled,  and  rode  back  into  the  forest. 


10.  SIR  PERCEVAL  HAS  AN  ADVENTURE  WITH 
A  GOOD  KNIGHT. 

Sir  Perceval  lay  a  long  time  at  the  hermi- 
tage. One  day,  King  Hermit  having  gone  into 
the  forest,  the  good  knight  found  himself  stronger 


140  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

and  better  than  he  had  been  for  a  long  time.  He 
heard  the  birds  singing  in  the  trees,  and  his  heart 
began  to  swell  within  him,  as  when  he  had  been  a 
boy.  He  remembered  all  the  adventures  he  had 
been  used  to  find  in  the  forest,  and  the  damsels 
and  knights  he  had  met.  He  never  felt  a  greater 
longing  to  be  armed  and  away  than  he  did  now, 
for  he  had  never  stayed  within  doors  so  long  as 
now.  Very  soon  he  armed  himself,  and,  saddling 
his  horse,  he  mounted  and  made  off. 

Then  he  prayed  to  God  to  send  him  a  good 
adventure,  and  that  he  might  meet  a  good  knight. 
So  he  rode  on  and  on  into  the  deep  and  shady 
forest,  listening  to  the  birds  and  rejoicing  in  the 
fresh,  green  leaves,  till  by  and  by  he  saw  a  great 
leafy  tree  that  stood  near  a  green  open  space.  He 
alighted  and  lay  down  in  the  shade  of  the  tree, 
and  as  he  lay  he  thought  that  two  knights  might 
easily  joust  in  such  a  space,  for  it  was  fair  and 
broad. 

While  he  was  thinking  this,  he  heard  a  horse 
neigh  three  times,  and  he  was  very  glad.  Then 
he  prayed,  "  Ah !  dear  God,  of  Thy  sweetness 
grant  that  this  may  be  a  good  knight  with  that 
horse,  so  that  I  may  see  if  there  be  any  force  or 
valor  or  knighthood  left  in  me.     I  pray  that  this 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY  GKAIL.       141 

may  be  a  knight  that  cometh,  and  that  he  have 
strength  and  hardihood  and  mettle  to  defend  him- 
self, and  grant  now  that  I  slay  him  not,  nor  he 
me." 

Perceval  sprang  on  his  horse  and  saw  an  armed 
knight  coming  toward  him.  At  his  neck  he  had 
hanging  a  white  shield  with  a  cross  of  gold.  He 
carried  his  lance  low,  and  was  seated  on  a  great 
war  horse  and  rode  very  swiftly.  As  soon  as 
Perceval  saw  him  nearing,  he  steadied  himself  in 
his  stirrups  and  set  his  spear  in  rest,  and,  setting 
his  spurs  into  his  horse,  he  went  toward  the  knight 
at  a  gallop. 

"  Sir  Knight,"  he  cried,  "  guard  yourself  with 
your  shield,  and  God  grant  I  find  you  a  valiant 
knight  of  great  courage,  that  I  may  try  and  see 
what  strength  I  have  left,  for  I  am  not  yet  as 
strong  as  I  used  to  be."  Then  he  smote  the 
knight  on  his  shield  with  such  a  sweep  of  his 
sword  that  he  made  him  lose  a  stirrup,  and  pierced 
his  shield  just  about  the  boss. 

The  knight  was  astonished,  and  asked,  saying, 
"  Fair  sir,  what  evil  deed  have  I  done  you  ? " 
But  Perceval  was  silent,  for  he  was  not  pleased 
that  he  had  not  dismounted  the  knight.  They 
rode  at  each  other  again  as  hard  as  their  horses 


142  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

would,  and  they  came  together  with  great  force, 
so  that  they  pierced  and  battered  each  other's 
shields.  And  Perceval's  spear  pierced  the  flesh 
two  finger  lengths ;  but  the  strange  knight  passed 
his  spear  right  through  Perceval's  arm,  so  that  the 
shaft  of  his  lance  was  splintered. 

Then  they  went  at  each  other  with  so  much 
rage  that  the  splinters  from  the  iron  of  their 
breastplates  stuck  in  their  foreheads  and  faces, 
and  the  blood  streamed  from  their  noses  and 
mouths.  They  drew  their  swords  through  the  air 
with  great  sweeps,  and  the  Knight  of  the  White 
Shield  took  hold  of  Sir  Perceval's  rein  and  said, 
"  I  would  gladly  know  who  you  are  and  why  you 
fight  me,  for  you  are  a  sturdy  knight  and  have 
wounded  me  sorely." 

Perceval  said  not  a  word,  and  they  ran  at  each 
other  with  drawn  swords,  and  gave  each  other 
such  blows  on  their  helmets  that  they  saw  sparkles 
of  stars,  and  the  forest  rang  with  the  clashing  of 
their  swords.  At  the  last  the  blood  that  ran  from 
their  wounds  weakened  them,  although  they  were 
so  heated  that  they  hardly  remembered  they  were 
wounded,  and  still  dealt  each  other  great  blows 
without  ceasing. 

Then   came  King   Hermit,  seated   on   a   mule, 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       143 

seeking  his  nephew;  and,  hearing  the  sound  of 
swords,  he  rode  at  full  speed  and  put  himself  be- 
tween them  to  stop  their  fighting.  "  Sir,"  he  said 
to  the  Knight  of  the  White  Shield,  "  you  do  wrong 
to  fight  with  one  who  has  so  long  been  on  a  bed 
of  sickness." 

"But,  sir,"  said  the  other,  "do  what  I  could, 
he  would  fight  me,  and  I  know  not  why,  though 
a  right  good  knight  he  is." 

"Fair  sir,"  said  King  Hermit,  "who  are  you?" 

"  I  am  Lancelot,"  said  he. 

"Fair  nephew,"  said  King  Hermit,  "this  is 
your   cousin." 

Then  he  made  them  unlace  their  helmets  and 
kiss  each  other.  Afterward  he  led  them  to  the 
hermitage,  where  a  damsel  that  was  a  good  leech 
cared  for  their  wounds.  Sir  Perceval's  wounds 
were  soon  healed ;  but  Lancelot  was  hurt  the 
worst,  and  he  was  sick  for  a  long  time,  and  King 
Hermit  and  the  damsels  tended  him  carefully. 


ii.  SIR   PERCEVAL  RESCUES  DINDRANE. 

The  heart  of  Sir  Perceval  rejoiced  within  him 
when  he  found  that  his  strength  had  returned  to 


144  HEROES   OF   CHIVALKY. 

him,  and  he  at  once  set  out  to  seek  the  Holy  Grail. 
After  he  had  ridden  a  long  way  through  the 
forest  and  was  coming  out  to  the  meadows  on  the 
other  side,  he  met  the  damsel  of  the  car,  who,  with 
her  two  attendants,  was  journeying  to  seek  him. 
When  she  found  him,  she  was  full  of  joy,  and 
prayed  him  eagerly  to  go  quickly  and  succor  the 
widow  lady  Yglais  his  mother,  and  his  sister, 
the  holy  nun,  Dindrane.  "  For,"  said  the  damsel, 
"  many  years  have  we  journeyed  seeking  you,  and 
sore  calamities  have  fallen  on  those  you  love, 
because  you  were  not  there  to  help  them. 

"  And  now,"  she  continued,  "  is  the  worst  peril 
of  all  upon  them,  and  without  your  aid  they  are 
indeed  miserable.  Lord  Aristole *  is  about  to  marry. 
He  is  going  to  take  the  daughter  of  the  widow 
lady  for  his  wife.  He  has  carried  her  off  by  force 
from  her  castle  of  Camelot,  and  has  left  her  in  the 
house  of  one  of  his  vavasors  or  dependants,  until 
such  a  time  as  he  desires  to  marry  her.  We  are 
very  sorrowful,  for  she  is  a  lady  of  most  noble 
lineage  and  of  great  beauty,  and  the  best  lady  in 
all  the  world.  Sad  it  is  that  he  should  have  her, 
for  on  the  day  of  the  New  Year  he  will  cut  off  her 
head ;  such  has  always  been  his  custom." 

1  Aristole  =  Ar'-is-tol. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       145 

"  Where  is  this  lord  ?"  said  Perceval.  "Can 
you  tell  me  where  he  is?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  damsel,  "he  is  fighting  with  a 
true  and  valiant  knight,  whose  name  is  the  Knight 
Hardy.  Every  knight  that  passes  through  this 
forest  yonder  Aristole  tries  to  slay." 

At  that  Sir  Perceval  rode  off,  and  when  he  had 
gone  two  or  three  leagues  and  entered  the  forest,  he 
heard  the  clash  of  the  knights'  swords  as  they  fought 
in  a  little  clearing.  As  soon  as  he  spied  them,  he 
put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and,  lance  in  rest,  he  smote 
Aristole  right  through  the  breastplate,  so  that  he 
was  thrown  backward  out  of  his  saddle.  Then  cried 
Sir  Perceval,  "  I  am  come  to  my  sister's  wedding ; 
it  is  not  right  that  it  should  be  held  without  me." 

Aristole,  who  was  strong  and  hardy,  reseated 
himself  on  his  saddle,  and  rode  at  Sir  Perceval  as 
if  he  were  mad,  but  Perceval  smote  him  again  so 
hard  that  he  thrust  his  spear  right  through  his 
body  and  threw  him  and  his  horse  in  a  heap  to  the 
ground.  Then  he  dismounted  and  slashed  off  his 
head  and  hanged  it  at  his  saddlebow. 

After  this  Perceval  rode  off  through  the  deep 
forest,  and  after  he  had  made  his  way  in  spite  of 
many  dangerous  encounters,  he  came  to  the  castle 
keep.     The  lady,  his  sister,  was   in  the  house  of 


146  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

the  vavasor,  a  very  worthy  man,  who  had  tried 
to  comfort  her.  But  she  moaned  and  lamented 
for  her  mother,  the  widow  lady,  who,  for  her 
part,  was  in  great  anguish  on  account  of  her  lost 
daughter. 

Then  Perceval,  armed  as  he  was,  dismounted  at 
the  mounting-stage  before  the  hall.  "  Sir,"  said 
the  vavasor,  "you  are  welcome." 

"  Good  adventure  may  you  have,"  replied  Sir 
Perceval.  As  he  held  Aristole's  head  in  his  hand 
by  the  hair,  the  vavasor  wondered  that  any  one 
should  carry  a  knight's  head  in  his  hand  in  such 
a  fashion. 

When  Perceval  came  to  the  hall  where  his  sister 
sat  lamenting,  he  said,  "  Damsel,  look  up ;  weep 
not!  for  your  wedding  is  prevented.  Behold  the 
head  of  him  who  carried  you  off."  Then  Din- 
drane,  recognizing  her  brother  by  the  arms  he 
bore,  sprang  up  and  welcomed  him  with  tears  of 
joy.  Sir  Perceval  thanked  the  vavasor  for  all  the 
kindness  he  had  shown  his  sister,  and  departed, 
his  sister  going  with  him  on  the  mule  which  had 
brought  her  hither. 

After  many  a  long  league  of  riding  through  the 
deep  forest,  the  good  knight  and  the  most  holy 
nun,  his  sister,  drew  near  the  castle  of  the  Valleys 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL.       147 

of  Camelot.  The  widow  lady  was  watching  at  the 
window  of  the  hall,  and  at  a  great  distance  off  she 
knew  her  daughter.  "  Oh !  dear  God/'  she  cried, 
"  I  see  my  daughter  and  a  knight  with  her. 
Grant,  0  God !  if  it  be  Thy  good  pleasure,  that 
it  may  be  my  son." 

As  Perceval  came  near  the  castle  with  his  sister, 
he  saw  again  the  little  chapel,  standing  on  four 
columns  of  marble,  between  the  forest  and  the 
castle.  He  was  passing  by  the  chapel,  but  his 
sister  said  to  him,  "Sir  brother,  no  knight  may 
pass  by  here  unless  he  goes  in  to  pray  at  the  tomb 
within  the  chapel." 

Then  he  alighted  and  set  the  damsel  on  the 
ground,  and  together  they  went  into  the  little 
chapel.  As  soon  as  he  came  near,  the  tomb  sud- 
dtenly  fell  apart,  and  inside  could  be  seen  the  em- 
balmed remains  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea.  When 
the  widow  lady  saw  this  marvel,  she  knew  right 
well  that  it  was  her  son  indeed,  and  she  kissed  and 
blessed  him  and  rejoiced  with  all  her  heart.  Then 
she  began  to  weep  for  joy,  and  kissed  both  Per- 
ceval and  Dindrane  again,  and  yet  again. 

"  Fair  son,"  she  said,  "  by  you  all  my  great  joy 
has  returned  to  me.  Now  I  may  very  well  depart, 
for  I  have  lived  long  enough." 


148  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

"Lady,"  he  said,  "your  life  should  be  an  offense 
to  none,  for  to  none  hath  it  ever  done  ill.  But, 
so  please  you,  and  if  God  will,  you  shall  not  end 
your  life  in  this  place,  but  rather  in  the  castle  that 
belongs  to  King  Fisherman,  your  brother.  There 
the  Holy  Grail  abides  and  the  holy  relics  are." 

"Dear  son,"  she  said,  "your  words  are  welcome 
to  me ;  gladly  would  I  be  there." 

"  Lady  mother,"  Sir  Perceval  replied,  "  God  will 
give  us  counsel  and  help  by  which  we  may  take 
you  there.  And  my  dear  sister,  if  she  wishes  to 
marry,  we  will  give  to  a  good  and  courteous 
knight  with  whom  she  may  live  happily." 

"My  brother,"  said  Dindrane,  "none  shall  I 
ever  marry.  It  is  well  that  I  should  go  with  you 
till  you  achieve  the  Grail." 

Perceval  stayed  a  long  time  with  his  mother 
and  sister  in  the  castle,  and  saw  that  all  the  land 
was  peaceful.  Dindrane  told  her  brother  that  she 
had  seen  the  Grail,  and  after  that  wandered  for 
many  years  looking  for  him,  and  all  that  had 
happened  since  he  had  left  the  castle  after  un- 
wittingly killing  the  Red  Knight.  And  Sir  Per- 
ceval made  known  to  his  mother  and  his  sister  all 
that  he  had  done  since  he  had  been  knighted  by 
the  hand  of  King  Arthur. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       149 

a  Now,"  he  said  to  Dindrane,  "  I  must  leave  you 
for  a  space,  but  afterward  I  will  take  my  mother 
and  establish  her  at  the  castle  of  King  Fisherman. 
Then,  as  the  quest  demands  it  of  us,  you  and  I  will 
follow." 


12.  THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  QUEEN  OF  THE 
MAIDENS. 

After  this  Sir  Perceval  left  his  mother  and  sister 
and  rode  a  long  way  till  he  came  to  the  seashore. 
By  and  by  he  saw  a  castle  on  a  high  rock  over  the 
sea.  As  he  went  he  saw  a  squire  coming  down 
the  steep  way  over  the  rocks  to  meet  him,  and  he 
asked  him  whose  the  castle  was.  "  Sir,"  said  the 
squire,  "  it  belongs  to  the  Queen  of  the  Maidens." 

Sir  Perceval  rode  to  the  gates  of  the  castle 
and  dismounted  at  the  mounting-stage.  Looking 
toward  the  steps  by  which  the  higher  hall  was 
reached,  he  saw  on  them  row  upon  row  of  knights 
and  damsels,  but  neither  knight  nor  damsel 
greeted  him.  Then  he  saluted  them,  and  went 
his  way  toward  the  door  of  the  great  hall,  and 
found  it  shut.  Then  he  rattled  the  knocker  so 
hard  that  all  the  walls  resounded. 


150  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

A  knight  came  and  opened  the  door,  saying, 
u  Sir  Knight,  you  are  welcome." 

"  Good  adventures  may  you  have,"  replied  Sir 
Perceval,  and  entered  the  castle.  Then  he  took 
off  his  helmet,  and  the  knight  led  him  into  the 
queen's  chamber. 

She  welcomed  him  with  great  joy  and  made 
him  sit  beside  her  all  armed.  And  a  damsel 
kneeled  at  the  queen's  feet  and  said,  "  Lady,  behold 
the  knight  who  first  saw  the  Grail." 

"Now  haste,"  said  the  queen,  "sound  the  ivory 
horn  before  the  castle." 

Then  the  rows  of  knights  and  damsels  leaped  up 
with  great  rejoicing,  for  they  knew  now  that  their 
penance  was  finished.  The  queen  took  Perceval 
by  the  hand  and  went  forth  to  meet  them.  "  Be- 
hold," she  said,  "the  knight  through  whom  you 
have  such  distress  ;  he  is  come  to  release  you." 

"  He  is  very  welcome,"  said  the  knights. 

"  Truly  he  is,"  said  the  queen.  "  He  is  the 
knight,  of  all  the  world,  whom  I  most  have  longed 
to  see." 

Then  the  queen  said  to  Sir  Perceval :  "  These 
knights  and  damsels  have  been  on  the  steps  at  the 
entrance  to  our  castle  ever  since  you  failed  to 
understand  the  signs  shown  to  you  in  the  castle  of 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.        151 

King  Fisherman.  Never  since  then  have  they 
entered  a  house  to  eat  or  drink  or  sleep,  nor  would 
they  now  if  you  had  not  come  ;  so  you  cannot 
marvel  at  their  joy.  But  more  than  this  :  we  have 
sore  need  of  you,  for  a  wicked  •  knight,  the  king 
of  Mortal  Castle,  who  is  brother  to  King  Fisher- 
man, makes  war  on  me  because  I  hold  my  castle 
from  the  king." 

"Lady,"  said  Sir  Perceval,  "  I  know  him;  he  is 
my  uncle.  And  I  tell  you  truly  the  king  of 
Mortal  Castle  is  the  most  cruel  king  that  lives ; 
and  he  makes  war  on  King  Fisherman  and  would 
capture  the  chapel  of  the  Grail." 

"  Sir  Knight,"  said  the  queen,  "  he  comes  to  an 
island  in  the  sea  near  by,  and  thence  he  plunders 
and  harms  my  land.  He  has  killed  many  of  my 
knights  and  damsels,  and  I  pray  God  to  take 
vengeance  on  him."  So  saying  she  led  Sir  Per- 
ceval to  the  windows  that  looked  over  the  sea- 
"  Now  you  may  see  the  island,"  she  said,  "where 
your  wicked  uncle  came  in  a  galley  last  night,  and 
where  he  rests  to  lay  his  plans  before  he  strikes 
his  blow.  And  here  near  us  in  the  little  bay  are 
the  galleys  which  strive  to  defend  us  from  him." 

After  Sir  Perceval  had  eaten  and  rested,  he 
armed   himself   and   entered   one   of   the   queen's 


152  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

galleys,  and  made  the  sailors  row  him  toward  the 
island.  His  uncle  was  much  amazed  to  see  him 
coming,  for  no  knight  had  ever  before  dared  to  go 
and  meet  him.  But  he  knew  not  as  yet  that  it 
was  Sir  Perceval,  or  he  would  have  hardly  been  so 
much  astonished. 

Then  Perceval's  galley  reached  the  shore  of  the 
island,  and  he  landed.  The  queen  and  all  her 
maidens  and  knights  stood  at  the  window  to  watch 
what  would  happen.  The  king  of  Mortal  Castle 
was  tall  and  strong  and  hardy.  He  saw  his 
nephew  coining  armed,  but  still  he  did  not  know 
rjjm.  But  Sir  Perceval  knew  his  uncle,  and  kept 
his  sword  drawn  and  his  shield  on  his  arm,  and 
flew  at  him  so  angrily  and  dealt  him  such  a  blow 
on  the  helmet,  that  he  made  him  reel. 

The  king  did  not  spare  Sir  Perceval,  but  struck 
back  so  sturdily  that  his  helmet,  too,  was  all 
dented.  Then  Perceval  struck  again,  hoping  that 
the  blow  would  fall  on  his  enemy's  head  ;  but  the 
king  swerved  aside  and  it  only  fell  on  the  shield, 
but  this  it  split  down  as  far  as  the  boss.  Then  the 
king  of  Mortal  Castle  drew  back  in  fear,  for  Sir 
Perceval's  sword  struck  him  everywhere,  and  if  his 
habergeon  had  not  been  so  strong  and  tough,  he 
would  have  been  wounded  in  many  places. 


THE  QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY  GRAIL.       153 

The  king  himself  dealt  such  blows  that  the 
queen,  and  all  those  with  her  at  the  windows, 
wondered  to  see  how  Sir  Perceval  withstood  them. 
Then  the  king  looked  at  the  shield  Sir  Perceval 
bore,  and  said,  "  Knight,  who  gave  you  that  shield, 
and  for  whom  do  you  carry  it  ?  " 

"  My  father,"  said  Sir  Perceval,  "  King  Alain-li- 
gros,  of  the  Valley  of  Camelot." 

"  Then  you  are  my  nephew,"  said  the  king. 

"  Yes,  and  very  sorry  am  I  that  I  am,"  Perceval 
replied,  "  for  from  you  have  we  never  had  any  honor. 
You  are  the  most  disloyal  knight  of  all  our  kindred. 
I  knew  when  I  came  here  that  it  was  you,  and  you 
do  I  defy  and  hold  for  my  enemy.  You  war  upon 
the  best  king  and  the  most  honorable  man  that 
lives,  and  on  the  queen  of  his  castle  because  she 
aids  him  as  best  she  may.  But,  please  God,  you 
shall  never  have  her  castle,  nor  the  castle  where 
the  chapel  lies  wherein  the  Holy  Grail  abides,  for 
God  loves  you  not." 

Then  the  king  of  Mortal  Castle,  fearing  that  he 
could  not  overcome  his  nephew,  turned  and  ran 
full  speed  to  his  galley,  and  leaped  upon  it,  and 
pushed  out  from  the  shore.  Sir  Perceval  followed 
him,  right  down  to  the  beach,  raging  to  think  that 
his  wicked  uncle  had  escaped  him.     He  cried  after 


154  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

him  as  loud  as  he  could :  "  Wicked  king,  never  tell 
me  again  that  I  am  of  your  kindred.  Never  yet 
did  a  knight  of  our  lineage  but  you  only  flee  from 
another  knight.  I  have  conquered  this  island; 
never  dare  to  be  seen  on  it  again." 

Then  Sir  Perceval  returned  to  the  castle,  and  the 
queen  made  great  rejoicings  in  his  honor,  for  she 
and  her  knights  knew  that  the  king  of  Mortal 
Castle  would  never  dare  return  to  the  island  again. 


13.  HOW  SIR   PERCEVAL   SAW  THE   KING  OF 
MORTAL   CASTLE   AGAIN. 

After  this  Sir  Perceval  went  on  his  way,  hoping 
ever  to  meet  again  with  the  king  of  Mortal  Castle 
and  kill  him.  Many  a  long  month  passed,  and 
still  he  found  him  not,  though  other  adventures 
he  found  in  plenty.  At  last,  one  day,  as  he  rode 
through  a  forest,  he  came  to  a  chapel  in  a  wood, 
and,  as  his  custom  was,  he  entered  in  to  pray. 

While  he  was  praying,  he  heard  a  voice  saying : 
"  Good  King  Fisherman  is  dead  and  the  king  of 
Mortal  Castle  has  seized  his  castle,  and  never  since 
has  the  Holy  Grail  appeared  to  any.  No  one 
knows  what  has  become  of  the  priests  that  served 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       155 

the  chapel,  or  of  the  twelve  ancient  knights  and 
holy  damsels.  Go  quickly  to  that  land  and  slay 
him,  or  the  law  of  God  that  has  been  established 
will  be  destroyed  throughout  the  land." 

Then  Sir  Perceval  made  haste,  and  rode  as 
quickly  as  he  might  till  he  came  to  the  hermitage 
of  King  Hermit,  his  good  uncle  and  the  brother  of 
King  Fisherman.  But  the  way  was  long,  and  it 
was  many  weary  months  before  he  saw  the  her- 
mitage before  him. 

King  Hermit  had  long  desired  to  see  Perceval, 
and  greeted  him  with  much  joy ;  and  Sir  Perceval 
recounted  to  him  all  the  adventures  that  had 
befallen  him  since  he  had  departed  from  the  her- 
mitage. His  uncle,  King  Hermit,  wondered  at  all 
the  marvelous  things  that  were  told  him,  and 
rejoiced  in  the  courage  and  prowess  of  his  nephew. 
Many  of  the  strange  happenings  he  was  able  to 
interpret  to  Sir  Perceval,  who  had  been  at  a  loss 
how  to  account  for  them. 

Then  King  Hermit  said :  "  Fair  nephew,  since 
you  were  made  a  knight,  many  are  the  ways  in 
which  you  have  served  the  Lord  and  helped  for- 
ward His  law  in  Britain.  Marvel  not  if  you  have 
had  sore  labor  in  thus  serving  God,  for  never  can 
a  man  win  honor  without  pain  and  striving.     Now 


156  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

there  lies  before  you  another  high  adventure  to 
achieve.  Your  mother's  brother,  your  uncle,  the 
king  of  Mortal  Castle,  some  time  since  seized  the 
lands  of  his  brother,  your  uncle,  King  Fisher- 
man. All  the  people  who  dwell  there  have  re- 
turned to  their  evil  ways  and  their  old  gods  by  his 
commandment. 

"  No  other  man  but  you  is  able  to  set  right  this 
great  wrong.  The  castle  and  the  lands  are  yours 
by  right,  and  very  sad  it  is  that  they  should  be  in 
the  hands  of  such  an  evil  man.  Since  the  death 
of  King  Fisherman  the  castle  has  been  much 
strengthened.  Nine  bridges  have  been  newly 
made,  and  at  each  bridge  are  set  tall  and  strong 
knights  to  guard  them.  The  chapel  wherein  the 
most  Holy  Grail  was  wont  to  appear  is  emptied 
of  all  the  holy  relics,  and  no  man  has  seen  again 
the  priest  and  maidens  who  served  at  the  altar." 

"  Good  uncle,"  said  Perceval,  "  gladly  will  I  go 
as  you  advise  me.  He  that  now  possesses  the 
castle  hath  no  right  to  it.  My  mother,  who  was 
next  of  kin  to  King  Fisherman,  because  of  whose 
death  I  am  very  sorrowful,  should  have  the  castle. 
Surely  I  will  take  it  from  him." 

"Dear  nephew,"  said  King  Hermit,  "  you  do 
well  to  be  sorrowful  for  the  death  of  King  Fisher- 


THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL       157 

man,  for  some  say  you  might  have  healed  him  of 
his  sore  wound  ;  but  of  that  I  myself  am  not  sure. 
Had  God  so  willed  it,  it  would  have  been  made 
clear  to  you  what  you  should  have  done.  But  go 
now  and  take  with  you  my  white  mule  starred 
on  the  forehead  with  a  red  cross;  and  a  certain 
banner  also  you  shall  take. 

"  The  power  of  God  is  greater  than  your  own. 
Seven  and  twenty  strong  knights  guard  well  the 
nine  bridges,  and  how  can  you  alone  withstand  so 
many  ?  But  fear  not.  God  will  open  a  way  for 
you  by  virtue  of  His  great  power  and  might.  If  at 
any  time  you  are  worsted  by  those  knights,  mount 
upon  the  mule  and  take  the  banner,  and  your  foes 
shall  forthwith  lose  their  strength  and  fail.  I 
know  well  that  you  are  the  best  knight  in  all  the 
world,  but  put  not  your  trust  in  your  own  strength 
alone. " 

Sir  Perceval  listened  meekly  to  all  the  holy 
hermit  said. 

"And  now,  good  nephew,"  continued  the  hermit, 
"there  are  at  the  gates  of  the  castle  two  great 
lions,  the  one  red,  the  other  white.  Trust  in  him 
that  is  white,  and  if  at  any  time  your  force  should 
be  diminished,  look  straight  at  him.  He  will  look 
at  you  in  such  a  fashion  that  you  will  know  in 


158  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

your  heart  what  is  the  wisest  thing  for  you  to  do. 
Therefore  do  as  he  would  have  you,  for  all  his 
intention  is  to  help  you,  and  in  no  other  manner 
can  you  win  your  way  into  the  castle." 

With  this,  Perceval  set  forth,  all  armed,  upon  his 
war  horse,  followed  by  the  white  mule.  He  met  a 
company  of  hermits  fleeing  from  the  wrath  of  the 
king  of  Mortal  Castle,  and  among  them  he  found 
his  cousin  Joseus,1  the  son  of  King  Pelles,  one  of 
his  uncles.  Then  he  commanded  all  of  them  to 
turn  back  again  with  him,  for  he  would  establish 
them  all  in  safety  again  in  their  hermitages. 

The  knights  that  guarded  the  bridges  saw  Sir 
Perceval  from  afar  off  and  told  their  lord  and  king. 
But  the  king  of  Mortal  Castle  said  to  them,  "  Have 
no  fear ;  what  can  one  knight  do  against  so  many 
of  us?" 

Then  Perceval  galloped  forward  on  his  war 
horse,  after  the  hermits  had  blessed  him  and  com- 
mended him  to  God's  keeping.  He  held  his  spear 
in  rest  and  rode  at  the  three  knights  that  guarded 
the  first  bridge.  They  all  set  upon  him  together 
and  broke  their  spears  on  his  shield.  One  of  them 
he  hit  so  hard  that  horse  and  rider  fell  off  the 
bridge  into  the  swift,  deep  river  that  flowed  below. 

1  Joseus  =  Jo'-se-us. 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE  HOLY   GKAIL.       159 

With  the  others  he  had  a  longer  fight,  but  at  the 
last  he  conquered  them,  and  threw  their  bodies  into 
the  river. 

At  the  second  gate  Sir  Perceval  had  much 
trouble,  so  strong  were  the  knights.  Joseus,  see- 
ing this,  said  to  his  companions,  "  Gladly  would  I 
help  him,  bat  I  fear  to  break  my  vows."  But  the 
other  hermits  said,  "  Go  forth ;  it  is  the  work  of 
God."  Then  he  threw  off  his  hermit's  cape  and 
rushed  at  one  of  those  knights,  and,  taking  him  by 
the  neck,  flung  him  into  the  river  all  armed  as 
he  was.  Perceval  quickly  got  the  better  of  the 
others  and  hurled  them  too  into  that  swiftly  flow- 
ing river/ 

But  now  weariness  overtook  him  because  of  his 
fight  with  the  six  knights,  and  he  bethought  him 
of  the  white  lion.  He  looked  toward  the  castle 
and  saw  the  lion  standing  upright  on  his  two  hind 
legs,  so  eager  was  he  to  gaze  at  Perceval.  Then 
Perceval  looked  him  full  square  in  the  face,  and, 
understanding,  saw  that  the  knights  of  the  next 
bridge  were  the  strongest  of  all ;  so  that,  weary  as 
he  was,  it  would  be  well  for  him  to  mount  on  the 
white  mule,  taking  the  banner  before  him. 

So  Perceval  and  Joseus  drew  back  for  a  little, 
and  at  once  the  two  bridges  were  closed  against 


160  HEEOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

them.  When  Perceval  was  again  ready,  the  white 
lion  broke  loose  from  his  chains,  and,  leaping  to 
the  bridge  quickly,  in  spite  of  the  knights,  opened 
them  once  more.  Then  Perceval,  on  his  white 
mule,  with  banner  waving  and  naked  sword  in 
hand,  approached  the  third  bridge.  The  first  of 
the  three  knights  he  smote  hard  and  he  threw 
him  into  the  dark  water.  Then  the  hermit  knight, 
Joseus,  came  forward  and  would  gladly  have  done 
the  same  to  the  two  others,  but  they  cried  for 
mercy  from  Sir  Perceval  and  promised  to  forsake 
their  evil  master  and  do  Perceval's  will  in  all 
things. 

Their  prayer  was  granted,  and  then  Perceval 
went  back  and  dismounted  from  his  mule  and 
gave  the  banner  into  the  hand  of  Joseus.  Mounted 
on  his  war  horse,  he  attacked  and  destroyed  the 
knights  of  the  fifth;  but  by  the  counsel  of  the 
white  lion  he  again  mounted  the  white  mule,  and 
with  the  power  of  the  banner  subdued  those  of  the 
sixth. 

Then  he  approached  those  of  the  seventh  bridge ; 
but  when  the  red  lion  saw  what  had  happened,  he 
burst  loose  from  his  chains  and  attacked  one  of  the 
conquered  knights.  The  white  lion  at  this  leaped 
on  the  red  lion  and  tore  him  to  pieces. 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       161 

Then  the  knights  of  the  seventh  bridge  came  to 
Perceval  praying  for  grace,  but  all  the  while  in 
their  hearts  they  treasonably  were  determined  to 
kill  him.  This  the  white  lion  disclosed  to  Sir 
Perceval,  so  that  he  denied  their  request.  Then 
the  lion  bade  him  slay  them,  mounted  on  his  mule  ; 
but  they  would  not  fight,  and  Perceval  was  sore 
troubled,  for  he  could  not  strike  men  who  would 
not  fight.  Then  the  white  lion  sprang  on  them 
and  tore  them  to  pieces.  Sir  Perceval  was 
astounded  at  the  power  over  his  evil  enemies 
which  lay  in  the  white  mule,  the  lion,  and  the 
banner.  The  knights  that  guarded  the  other  two 
bridges  were  sore  afraid,  and  quickly  came  to  Sir 
Perceval  to  make  what  terms  with  him  they 
could. 

During  all  this  time  the  king  of  Mortal  Castle 
had  stood  on  the  battlements  watching.  When  he 
saw  how  some  of  his  knights  were  destroyed,  and 
the  red  lion  also,  and  how  the  hearts  of  the  others 
had  failed  them,  he  was  mad  with  rage  and  fear. 
Before  Sir  Perceval  could  get  at  him,  he  mounted 
to  the  highest  place  on  the  walls,  and,  lifting  up 
his  breastplate,  he  fixed  his  keen  and  well-tempered 
sword  in  such  a  fashion  that  he  could  throw  him- 
self upon  it,  and  it  pierced  him  straight  through 


162  HEKOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

the  body.  Then  he  fell  down  from  the  high  walls 
into  the  water  that  ran  swift  and  deep  outside  the 
battlements  of  the  castle. 

Sir  Perceval  and  all  his  company  marveled  that 
a  king  should  kill  himself  in  such  a  fashion.  But 
such  was  his  end,  and  it  is  right  that  the  end  of 
such  an  evil  man  should  be  evil,  and  without  honor. 

Then  Sir  Perceval  cleared  the  castle  of  all  the 
wicked  followers  of  the  king  of  Mortal  Castle,  and 
freed  the  company  of  holy  priests,  knights,  and 
maidens,  whom  the  king  had  imprisoned  in  the 
dungeons.  He  instructed  them  to  restore  the 
chapel,  and  to  bring  again  the  relics  which  they 
had  hidden  when  their  enemies  had  come,  after 
the  death  of  the  good  King  Fisherman.  And  once 
more  the  holy  service  was  chanted  in  the  chapel, 
and  once  again  the  Grail  appeared  to  the  pious 
worshipers  whom  Perceval  had  restored. 

After  this  Perceval  made  his  way  toward  the 
castle  of  his  mother,  the  widow  lady.  As  he 
went,  he  was  overtaken  by  the  damsel  of  the  car, 
who  showed  much  joy  at  seeing  him.  "  Sir,"  she 
said,  "  bald  was  I  the  first  time  I  saw  you ;  now, 
behold,  I  have  my  hair !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Perceval,  "  and,  as  I  see,  hair  most 
beautiful." 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       163 

"  Sir,"  she  continued,  "  I  used  to  carry  my  arm 
at  my  neck,  in  a  scarf  of  gold  and  silk,  for  I 
thought  the  services  I  had  done  you  had  been 
wasted;  now  I  see  that  they  were  not,  and  so  I 
carry  it  as  I  do  the  other.  The  damsel  that  went 
on  foot  now  goes  on  horseback,  for  you  have  proved 
a  fair,  kind,  and  gentle  knight,  true  and  honorable, 
and  worthy  to  be  honored.  Many  are  the  damsels 
and  good  knights  you  have  rescued,  and  many  are 
the  wrongs  you  have  avenged  for  those  who  could 
ill  help  themselves. 

"  Much  joy  have  you  brought  to  the  widow  lady, 
your  mother,  and  the  holy  nun,  your  sister.  You 
have  restored  the  castle  of  King  Fisherman,  and 
brought  back  peace  to  the  land.  Wherefore  return 
now,  and  bring  your  mother,  and  establish  her  in 
King  Fisherman's  castle,  where  she  may  wait  her 
end,  and  where  the  most  Holy  Grail  doth  still 
abide. 

"Afterward  you  and  your  sister  shall  travel 
through  many  lands  and  see  many  things,  and 
blessings  will  follow  in  your  train.  You  shall 
meet  Sir  Galahad,1  the  pure  knight,  and  with  him 
Sir  Bors.  But  your  end  shall  be  as  God  pleases, 
when   you   have  fulfilled  His  law.     Never  again 

1  Galahad  =  Gal'-a-had. 


164  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

shall  you  return  to  King  Arthur's  pleasant  court, 
neither  you  nor  that  pure  young  knight,  Sir 
Galahad." 

When  she  had  so  spoken,  she  passed  from  his 
sight.  Then  Perceval  rode  on,  pondering  in  his 
heart  what  he  had  heard,  and  full  of  quiet  joy. 
And  he  did  all  that  the  wise  damsel  had  said,  and 
when  he  had  established  his  mother  in  the  castle 
of  King  Fisherman  he  and  his  sister  went  their 
ways  together. 

We  cannot  follow  Sir  Perceval  and  Dindrane  in 
all  their  adventures  that  the  old  stories  tell  us 
about.  After  a  time  they  parted,  and  rode  sepa- 
rately. One  day,  after  Sir  Perceval  had  been 
riding  many  hours,  he  came  in  the  evening  to  a 
small  hermitage,  and  sought  within  rest  and 
counsel.  Near  the  hermitage  lived  a  recluse, 
and  he  kneeled  at  her  window  and  prayed  her 
to  open.  When  she  came  and  opened  it,  she 
asked  what  he  desired. 

"  Madame,"  said  he,  "  I  am  Sir  Perceval,  a 
knight  of  King  Arthur's  court."  When  she  heard 
this  she  was  glad,  for  indeed  she  loved  him  more 
than  any  other  knight  in  the  world,  and  well  she 
might,  for  she  was  his  aunt.  Then  the  gates  were 
opened,  and  she  gave  Perceval  all  the  good  cheer 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       165 

she  could,  and  he  rested  there  most  peacefully  and 
sweetly,  close  by  the  green  forest. 

The  next  morning,  as  Perceval  talked  with  her, 
she  said,  u  Fair  nephew,  have  you  any  tidings  of 
your  mother  since  you  left  her?" 

"In  truth,"  Sir  Perceval  replied,  "I  have  not 
heard  of  her  for  a  long  time,  but  lately  I  have 
dreamed  much  of  her  in  my  sleep." 

u  Dear  nephew,"  said  she,  "  your  mother  is  dead. 
After  all  the  sorrows  she  has  had  in  this  life,  she  is 
fallen  asleep." 

"  May  God  have  mercy  on  her  soul,"  said  Perce- 
val ;  and  he  was  very  sorrowful,  and  said  many 
prayers  in  the  chapel  for  her.  Then  the  time 
came  for  him  to  leave,  and  he  and  his  aunt  were 
grieved,  for  they  knew  that  they  would  meet  no 
more  on  this  earth. 


14.    SIR  LANCELOT  AND   SIR   GALAHAD. 

Of  all  the  knights  who  followed  the  quest  of  the 
Holy  Grail,  but  failed  to  find  it,  Sir  Lancelot  had 
perhaps  the  most  wonderful  adventures.  Many 
times  he  went  and  returned  to  the  court,  without 
seeing  even  the  vision  of  the  Grail. 


166  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Once  Lancelot  started  forth  with  King  Arthur 
himself ;  once  also  in  the  company  of  Sir  Perceval, 
and  at  another  time  of  Sir  Gawain.  Many  were 
the  knights  and  the  maidens  in  distress  whom  he 
succored. 

Once  he  entered  the  castle  of  King  Fisherman 
itself,  and  all  things  made  way  before  him,  but  still 
the  Grail  did  not  appear  to  him.  At  last,  after  a 
deadly  encounter  with  some  wicked  knights,  when 
he  and  Sir  Bors  were  left  well-nigh  dead,  though 
having  vanquished  their  enemies,  the  blessed  ves- 
sel was  seen  by  Sir  Bors.  Its  influence  healed 
both  him  and  Sir  Lancelot  of  their  wounds,  and 
they  were  again  able  to  pursue  their  adventures. 

It  was  while  King  Arthur  and  Lancelot  were 
together  that,  journeying  one  day  along  the  sea- 
shore, they  saw  a  wonderful  sight.  The  day  had 
been  hot,  for  it  was  in  summer,  and  there  were  no 
trees  to  give  them  shade  ;  and,  weary  with  their 
ride,  they  had  dismounted  from  their  horses,  and 
sat  them  down  in  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock. 
It  was  evening,  and  a  faint  breeze  rippled  the 
water  which  fell  in  little  wavelets  on  the  sand. 
From  afar  a  light  mist  came  stealing  in,  and 
enveloping  the  king  and  Lancelot,  floated  in  great 
billows  far  inland  over  the  salt  meadows. 


THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL.       169 

Presently  they  heard,  faintly  at  first,  but  soon 
more  distinctly,  the  silver  tones  of  a  bell  out  at 
sea,  and  they  saw  gleaming  through  the  misty 
air  a  small  ship.  The  ship  seemed  as  if  it  were 
made  of  light,  and  the  sound  of  softly  singing 
voices  reached  them,  bringing  to  them  sweet 
refreshment.  As  the  wonderful  vision  neared  the 
shore,  they  saw  for  an  instant,  amidships,  as  it 
were  a  tongue  of  rosy  flame  trembling ;  and  then 
the  vision  floated  away  and  faded,  vanishing  in  the 
distance.  But  ever  they  heard  the  silvery  tone  of 
the  bell.  Soon  the  vapor  lifted,  and  the  bright 
beams  of  the  setting  sun  flashed  a  path  of  light 
over  the  silent  sea.  Then  Lancelot  and  the  king 
rose,  comforted  and  rested,  and,  speaking  no  word, 
continued  their  journey. 

After  this  they  parted,  the  king  to  return  to  his 
castle,  Lancelot  to  see  what  would  befall.  As  he 
rode  on  his  way,  he  came  to  a  little  hermitage,  and 
the  hermit  Joseus  was  sitting  outside  his  door. 
He  made  Lancelot  very  welcome,  for  he  knew  well 
who  he  was.  Lancelot  came  and  sat  beside  him, 
when  he  had  fed  and  cared  for  his  horse.  They 
spoke  of  many  things  together,  and  the  hermit 
interpreted  to  Lancelot  his  vision.  "Now,"  he 
said,   "  soon  you  will  see  Sir  Galahad,  that   pure 


170  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

young  knight  who  in  all  his  short  life  hath  done 
no  evil  thing.  Right  well  should  you  rejoice  that 
you  are  father  to  such  a  son.  Honor  and  worship 
have  all  your  kindred  thereby." 

Well  Lancelot  remembered  the  young  knight 
who  had  sat  in  the  Seat  Perilous  at  the  Round 
Table  before  ever  the  knights  had  made  their  vows 
to  follow  the  quest  of  the  Holy  Grail,  and  he  re- 
joiced that  such  a  noble  knight  was  his  son. 
Elaine,1  the  daughter  of  King  Pelles,2  was  the 
mother  of  Sir  Galahad,  and  she  had  brought  the 
boy  up  in  the  lonely  castle  of  King  Pelles. 

Lancelot  rested  well  for  the  night  and  shared 
the  simple  food  of  the  hermit  knight  Joseus. 

The  next  morning,  when  he  had  heard  mass,  Sir 
Lancelot  departed.  He  had  not  ridden  far  when 
he  came  to  a  great,  gloomy  forest.  The  way  was 
all  tangled  over  with  rank  growth  of  briers  and 
wild  weeds  growing  so  close  together  that  hardly 
could  his  horse  push  through  them.  When  he  had 
been  riding  many  hours,  he  found  that  he  had 
altogether  lost  his  way.  The  forest  was  so  dark 
that  he  judged  that  the  evening  was  come,  so, 
faint  for  want  of  food,  but  grieving  more  that  he 
had  nothing  to  feed  his  horse,  he  spent  the  night 

1  Elaine  =  E-lan'.  2  Pelles  =  Pel'-lez. 


THE  QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       171 

in  a  little  open  space  made  by  the  gnarled  roots 
of  a  great  tree. 

While  he  slept  he  dreamed,  and  in  his  dream  he 
heard  a  voice  saying,  "  Lancelot,  arise  and  go  to 
the  edge  of  the  forest  and  enter  into  the  first  ship 
that  thou  shalt  find."  When  he  heard  these  words, 
he  started  up  and  saw  a  great  clearness  all  around 
him,  so  he  mounted  on  his  horse  and  took  his  way 
out  into  the  light.  He  presently  reached  the  sea- 
shore, and  on  the  strand  he  found  a  ship  without 
sail  or  oars.  Entering,  he  saw  a  fair  chamber,  and 
in  the  chamber  a  writing  which  said,  "  Tarry  here 
till  Sir  Galahad  come." 

One  evening  he  walked  upon  the  strand  in  the 
moonlight,  meditating,  and  he  saw  a  young  knight 
going  into  the  ship.  Sir  Lancelot  went  to  him  and 
said,  "  Sir,  you  are  welcome,"  and  asked  him  his 
name,  for  his  heart  was  strangely  moved  within  him. 

"  My  name  is  Sir  Galahad,"  answered  he,  "  and 
I  am  your  son."  Then  he  kneeled  down  and  asked 
his  father's  blessing,  and  there  was  such  joy  be- 
tween them,  that  none  could  tell  how  great  it  was. 
Then  they  told  each  other  all  their  perilous  adven- 
tures that  had  befallen.  And  Sir  Lancelot  and  Sir 
Galahad  stayed  full  half  a  year  in  that  ship,  praying 
together. 


172  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

One  night  they  saw  a  knight  armed  in  white, 
riding  to  them  on  the  sand.  He  came  to  the  ship 
and  said,  "  Sir  Galahad,  you  have  been  long  enough 
with  your  father;  come  out  of  the  ship  and  go 
where  I  shall  show  you." 

"Now,  my  dear  son  Sir  Galahad,"  said  Sir 
Lancelot,  "  since  we  must  part  and  shall  never  see 
each  other  more,  I  pray  the  high  Father  in  heaven 
to  keep  and  preserve  both  you  and  me." 

Sir  Galahad  said,  "  No  prayer  will  prevail  more 
than  yours,  my  father."  And  so,  embracing  each 
other  tenderly,  they  parted.  And  Sir  Galahad  rode 
away  with  the  shining  knight  in  white  armor  into 
the  dark  forest. 

15.    THE  VISION   OF   SIR   LANCELOT. 

Sir  Lancelot  was  sorrowful  and  cast  down  when 
Sir  Galahad  had  left  him.  He  remained  by  the 
seashore  praying  for  a  season.  As  he  kneeled, 
there  fell  on  his  ear  the  faint  and  far-away  tones 
of  the  silver  bell,  and,  looking  up,  he  saw  coming 
swiftly  toward  him  over  the  water  a  little  ship. 
When  it  had  neared  the  strand  he  stepped  aboard, 
and  the  ship  passed  swiftly  out  to  sea.  Sir  Lance- 
lot kneeled  still,  praying. 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       173 

The  sound  of  the  bell  came  clearer  and  clearer 
and  louder  to  him,  till  presently,  at  midnight,  he 
heard  the  chimes  sounding  clear  from  a  great,  high 
rock,  and  on  it  he  saw  a  castle  rich  and  fair,  look- 
ing over  the  sea.  When  his  ship  came  to  land,  he 
stepped  forth  and  came  to  a  little  postern  gate, 
with  two  lions  standing  at  the  entry.  The  moon 
shone  clear;  he  heard  a  voice  saying,  "Lancelot, 
leave  the  ship  and  enter  into  the  castle,  and  thou 
shalt  see  a  great  part  of  thy  heart's  desire." 

Lancelot  set  his  hands  on  his  sword  and  drew  it, 
and  again  he  heard  the  voice  which  said,  "  Oh, 
man  of  little  faith,  wherefore  dost  thou  trust  to 
the  strength  of  thine  own  arms  rather  than  in  the 
power  of  God,  in  w:hose  service  thou  art  ?  " 

Then  Lancelot  cried  out,  "  Great  Father,  and 
dear  Lord  Jesus,  I  thank  Thee  for  reproving  me 
of  my  misdeed,  and  that  Thou  holdest  me  for  Thy 
servant." 

Then  he  took  his  sword  and  laid  it  down  on  his 
shield,  and  reverently  he  came  up  to  the  lions,  who 
let  him  pass  without  in  any  way  harming  him. 
Sir  Lancelot  entered,  and  found  no  gate  or  door 
closed  against  him.  At  last  he  came  to  a  chamber, 
the  door  of  which  was  closed,  and  he  tried  as  hard 
as  he  might  to  open  it,  but  he  could  not. 


174  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

Listening,  he  heard  a  voice  which  sang  so  sweetly 
that  he  knew  it  could  not  be  of  this  earth. 

The  words  he  heard  were,  "  Joy  and  honor  to 
the  Father  of  heaven. "  Then  Lancelot  kneeled 
low  and  bowed  his  head,  for  he  knew  that  in  that 
chamber  must  be  the  Holy  Grail.  And  he  prayed, 
saying,  "Dear  Lord  and  Father,  have  pity  on  me, 
and  of  Thy  great  goodness  show  me  somewhat  of 
that  which  I  seek." 

Then  the  door  softly  opened  and  the  chamber 
was  full  of  clear  light.  He  came  to  the  door 
to  enter,  but  the  voice  said,  "  Forbear ;  to  enter  is 
not  for  thee."  He  looked  and  saw  in  the. midst 
of  the  fair  chamber  the  Holy  Grail  shining 
through  a  cloth  of  red  samite.  As  one  in  a  dream, 
he  made  again  to  enter  the  chamber,  but  it  seemed 
as  if  a  breath  mingled  with  fire  smote  him  in  the 
face,  so  that  he  fell  to  the  ground  senseless.  Then 
hands  took  him  up  and  laid  him  in  another  room, 
and  still  he  awoke  not  from  his  swoon. 

The  next  morning  the  folk  of  the  castle  found 
Lancelot  within,  and  they  marveled  how  he  could 
have  entered  the  castle.  He  lay  for  twenty-four 
days  and  nights  in  a  swoon  like  one  dead.  When 
he  opened  his  eyes,  they  asked,  "  What  have  you 
seen  ?  " 


THE   QUEST   OE   THE   HOLY  GRAIL.       175 

And  he  said,  "  I  have  seen  such  great  marvels 
that  no  tongue  may  tell  them,  and  such  peace  have 
I  that  no  man  can  even  understand  if  I  should  try 
to  tell  him." 

Then  the  lord  of  the  castle  bade  them  bring 
Lancelot  to  him,  and  he  saw  that  it  was  King  Pelles. 
And  the  king  said  to  him,  "  My  fair  daughter  is 
dead,  and  for  her  sake  you  have  seen  what  you 
have  seen." 

Then  Lancelot  replied  to  King  Pelles,  "  She  was 
a  sweet,  fair  lady,  fresh  and  young,  and  her  son  is 
the  truest,  purest  knight  alive."  And  Lancelot 
sorrowed  for  her  truly. 

Then  he  took  his  leave  and  made  his  way  back 
to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  for  he  had  sworn 
himself  the  true  champion  and  knight  of  Queen 
Guinevere,  and  always  he  held  himself  ready  to 
do  her  knightly  service. 


16.    SIR   GALAHAD,    SIR    PERCEVAL,    SIR    BORS, 
AND  DINDRANE. 

Many  were  the  adventures  of  Sir  Galahad  after 
he  betook  himself  to  the  quest  of  the  Holy  Grail. 
He  was  very  young,  but  he  was  very  strong,  and 


176  HEBOES   OF  CHIVALEY. 

his  mother  Elaine  and  his  grandfather  King  Pelles 
had  trained  him  in  courtly  manners  and  great 
gentleness  and  in  all  chivalrous  pursuits.  From 
the  first  they  had  known  that  he  would  achieve 
the  Grail,  but  when,  they  knew  not. 

After  Sir  Galahad  had  followed  the  knight  in 
shining  armor  a  long  way  through  the  gloomy 
forest,  they  came  at  nightfall  to  a  lonely  hermitage, 
and  the  shining  knight  commended  Galahad  to  the 
care  of  the  hermit.  Taking  leave  of  Sir  Galahad, 
he  said,  "  Fair  and  gentle  knight,  farewell.  Ere 
long  one  shall  come  for  you  whom  you  will  gladly 
follow.',  So  saying,  he  vanished  away  from  their 
sight. 

When  they  were  all  at  rest  in  the  house,  that 
very  night,  there  came  a  knocking  at  the  door 
and  a  voice  called,  "  Sir  Galahad."  The  hermit 
went  to  the  door  to  know  who  it  might  be.  Then 
the  voice  called  to  the  hermit,  "  Sir,  I  am  one 
that  would  speak  with  Sir  Galahad."  The  hermit 
waked  Sir  Galahad  and  bade  him  rise,  and  told  him 
to  come  and  speak  with  a  gentlewoman  who  seemed 
to  have  great  need  of  him. 

Then  Galahad  went  out  to  her  and  she  said,  "  Arm 
you,  Sir  Knight,  and  mount  your  horse  and  follow 
me,  and  I  will  show  you  the  greatest  adventure 


THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL.   17*i 

that  any  knight  has  seen."  So  he  took  his  horse, 
and  commended  himself  to  God,  and  bade  the 
damsel  lead  the  way,  saying  that  he  would  follow 
where  she  should  lead  him. 

Taking  leave  of  the  hermit,  the  damsel  rode 
off  at  a  gallop,  till  they  came  to  the  seashore. 
There  they  found  a  ship  in  which  were  Sir  Perce- 
val and  Sir  Bors,  and  when  Perceval  saw  Dindrane 
and  Sir  Galahad,  he  was  glad.  They  had  much 
joy  of  each  other  and  thanked  God  that  He  had 
brought  them  together.  After  having  eaten  and 
refreshed  themselves,  they  sat  talking  together, 
telling  each  other  of  their  journeys  and  trials  • 
and  temptations,  and  how  through  the  strength 
of  God  they  had  overcome. 

Then  they  sailed  away  till  they  came  to  a  rocky 
shore,  where  they  could  not  land  until  they  had 
passed  into  another  ship  which  lay  empty  by  the 
rocks.  When  they  entered  this  ship,  they  won- 
dered greatly,  so  marvelously  rich  and  fair  did 
they  find  it.  In  the  midst  was  a  fair  bed,  and  on 
the  silken  coverlid  was  a  crown  of  gold  lying. 
At  the  foot  of  the  bed  Sir  Galahad  found  a  sword, 
very  beautiful,  and  it  was  drawn  out  of  the  scab- 
bard more  than  half  a  foot. 

The  fashion  of  the  sword  was  very  wonderful. 


178  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

The  pommel  was  of  stone,  and  in  it  were  all  man- 
ner of  flashing  colors,  and  each  several  color  had  its 
own  virtue.  The  handle  was  made  of  the  ribs  of  two 
strange  beasts.  One  of  these  beasts  was  a  serpent, 
called  the  serpent  of  the  fiend,  whose  bones  are  of 
such  worth  that  no  hand  that  touched  it  was  ever 
weary  or  hurt.  The  other  beast  was  a  great  fish 
that  is  found  in  the  river  Euphrates,  and  whoso 
handled  his  bones  had  so  much  courage  that 
he  was  never  weary.  While  he  handled  it,  he 
thought  of  neither  joy  nor  sorrow,  but  only  of 
what  lay  before  him  to  accomplish.  And  this 
mighty  sword  might  belong  to  no  man  but  one 
who  should  surpass  all  others  both  in  courage 
and  in  meekness. 

Sir  Perceval  and  Sir  Bors  both  tried  to  draw 
the  sword  from  its  scabbard,  but  could  not.  Sir 
Galahad  looked  and  saw  on  the  sword  in  blood-red 
letters,  "Let  him  who  is  hardiest  draw  the  sword, 
and  never  shall  he  fail  in  any  encounter  or  be 
wounded  unto  death." 

Then  Sir  Galahad  did  not  try  to  draw  the  sword, 
for  he  thought  that  it  could  not  be  he  who  was 
hardiest.  But  the  holy  nun  Dindrane  came  to  him 
and  said,  "Sir  Galahad,  no  man  may  ever  draw 
this  sword  but  only  you." 


From  a  Stutue  in  the  Hofklrche,  Innsbruck,  Austnt 

A  Knight  of  the  Round  Table. 


THE   QUEST   OF    THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       181 

"You  speak  wise  words/'  said  Sir  Galahad, 
a  but,  in  truth,  it  belongeth  no  more  to  me  than  to 
Sir  Perceval  or  Sir  Bors." 

Now  there  was  no  girdle  for  the  sword,  and  Sir 
Perceval  said,  "  Where  shall  we  find  one  that  will 
be  fit?" 

"Fair  sir,"  said  his  sister,  "be  not  dismayed, 
for  I  will  show  you  a  girdle  for  the  sword  which 
shall  rightly  belong  to  it."  Then  she  opened  a  box 
and  took  out  a  girdle  woven  with  golden  threads 
and  set  with  precious  stones,  and  with  a  rich 
buckle  of  gold.  "  See,  my  lords,"  she  said,  "  the 
greatest  part  of  this  girdle  was  made  of  my  hair. 
I  loved  it  too  well  when  I  was  a  woman  of  this 
world ;  but  as  soon  as  I  knew  this  adventure  was 
ordained  for  me,  I  clipped  off  my  hair  and  made 
this  girdle." 

Then  the  others  said  to  Sir  Galahad,  "  We  pray 
you,  gird  you  with  the  sword  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord." 

Then  he  drew  it  out,  and  the  damsel  girded  him 
with  the  sword,  and  said,  "  Now  I  care  not  how 
soon  I  die,  for  surely  I  am  one  of  the  most  blessed 
maidens  of  this  world,  since  I  have  hereby  made 
you  the  worthiest  knight  of  all  the  world." 

"Fair   damsel,"    said    Sir   Galahad,   "so   much 


182  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

have  you  done  for  me  that  I  shall  be  your  knight 
all  the  days  of  my  life/' 

After  this  they  returned  to  the  other  ship,  and 
the  wind  drove  them  far  out  to  sea,  and  the  next 
day  they  had  come  to  the  marshes  of  the  north- 
land.  They  passed  a  port  and  came  to  shore. 
The  damsel  said,  "Here  are  men  who,  if  they 
knew  you  came  from  Arthur's  court,  would  soon 
destroy  you  if  they  could." 

"  Damsel,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  He  that  delivered 
us  from  the  sea  and  from  the  rocks  will  deliver 
us  from  them  also." 

While  they  were  speaking,  a  squire  from  the 
castle  came  to  them  and  asked  them  who  they 
were. 

"  We  are  of  King  Arthur's  court,"  they  said. 

Then  said  the  squire,  "  It  is  a  sad  day  for  you, 
for  surely  you  are  come  to  your  death." 

Then  they  said,  "  We  will  not  go  away,  for  He 
will  help  us  to  whose  service  we  are  bound." 

Then  many  knights  came  down  from  the  castle 
and  rode  against  them;  but  Sir  Perceval  threw 
the  foremost  to  the  ground  and  took  his  horse, 
and  so  also  did  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Bors  to  two 
other  knights,  for  they  had  left  their  horses  be- 
hind when  they  first   took  ship.     When  they  all 


THE  QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       183 

had  horses,  they  set  upon  the  knights  and  drove 
them  into  the  castle,  and  then  they  alighted  and 
slew  them  all  and  went  into  the  hall.  When  they 
saw  the  host  of  men  they  had  killed,  they  feared 
that  they  had  been  great  sinners,  but  Sir  Bors 
said,  "If  God  had  loved  them,  we  should  have 
had  no  power  to  kill  them  thus." 

""Do  not  say  so,"  said  Sir  Galahad;  "if  they 
did  evil  before  God,  to  Him  belongs  the  vengeance, 
not  to  us." 

As  they  debated  together,  there  came  out  of  a 
chamber  a  good  man,  a  priest,  who,  when  he  saw 
all  the  dead  men,  was  afraid.  "  Sir,"  they  said, 
"  have  no  fear  of  us,  for  we  are  knights  of 
Arthur's  court."  Then  he  asked  them  how  they 
had  killed  all  these  men  so  suddenly,  and  they 
told  him. 

"  Truly,"  he  said,  "At  you  should  all  live  as  long 
as  the  world  endures,  you  will  never  do  a  better 
deed  than  this." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  I  repent  me  of  kill- 
ing them,  inasmuch  as  they  were  Christians." 

"  Repent  not,"  he  replied ;  "  I  will  tell  you  the 
tale  of  this  castle.  These  men  were  wicked 
brothers  who  foully  misused  their  father  and  their 
sister,  and  put  them  in  prison,  wounded  nearly  to 


184  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

death.  Then  they  slew  the  priests  and  clerks, 
and  broke  down  the  chapels,  that  the  service  of 
our  Lord  might  not  be  said ;  and  such  shame  as 
I  have  been  subject  to  at  their  hands  no  man  ever 
had  before  me." 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "if  it  had  not 
pleased  the  will  of  our  Lord,  we  could  never  have 
killed  all  these  so  suddenly." 

Then  when  they  had  rested  and  eaten  and  had 
prayed,  they  departed  and  commended  the  good 
priest  unto  God. 


17.    DINDRANE  GIVES  HER  LIFE  FOR  A  LADY. 

As  Sir  Perceval,  Sir  Galahad,  and  Sir  Bors, 
accompanied  by  the  holy  nun  Dindrane,  went 
their  way,  they  came  to  a  great  castle.  An  armed 
knight  came  riding  toward  them  and  cried : 
"  Lords,  hear  what  I  have  to  say.  Is  this  gentle- 
woman you  lead  with  you  a  maid  ?  " 

"  Sir,"  said  Dindrane,  "  I  am." 

Then  he  seized  her  horse  by  the  bridle  and  said, 
"By  the  Holy  Cross,  you  shall  not  escape  from 
me  before  you  have  yielded  to  the  custom  of  the 
castle." 


THE  QUEST   OF  THE  HOLY   GRAIL.       185 

"  Let  her  go,"  said  Sir  Perceval,  "  you  are  not 
wise,  for  a  maid  is  free  and  to  be  honored  in  what- 
ever place  she  is." 

There  came,  riding  from  the  castle,  ten  or  twelve 
armed  knights,  and  a  gentlewoman  bearing  a  bowl 
of  silver,  and  they  said :  "  This  damsel  must  yield 
to  the  custom  of  the  castle.  Every  maid  that 
passeth  here  must  give  a  bowlful  of  the  blood  of 
her  right  arm." 

"You  are  much  to  blame,"  said  Sir  Galahad, 
"  that  keep  such  customs,  and,  may  God  help  me, 
I  assure  you  that  this  gentlewoman  shall  not  yield 
to  your  custom,  save  of  her  own  good  will,  as  long 
as  I  live." 

"  God  help  me  too,"  said  Sir  Perceval ;  "  I  had 
rather  be  slain  myself." 

"  And  I  also,"  said  Sir  Bors. 

"Then  shall  you  die,"  said  the  knight,  "for  we 
are  too  many  against  you  if  you  were  the  best 
knights  in  all  the  world." 

Then  they  ran  at  the  ten  knights  and  beat  them 
down  and  slew  them;  but  there  came  from  the 
castle  sixty  other  knights  all  armed.  Then  with 
no  more  words  they  fell  on  these,  and  fought  with 
them  till  night  came,  and  slew  them.  So  there 
came  another  knight  from  the  castle  and  said,  "  If 


186  HEBOES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

you  will  enter  and  spend  the  night,  you  shall  be 
honorably  treated,  and  as  soon  as  you  know  the 
custom  and  the  reason  of  it,  I  dare  say  you  will 
consent  unto  it." 

"  Go  in,"  said  Dindrane,  u  and  be  not  afraid  for 
me."  So  they  entered  the  castle.  Then  they  of 
the  castle  feasted  them  well,  and  the  next  morning 
told  them  the  reason  for  the  custom  of  the  castle. 

"  In  this  castle,"  they  said,  "  is  a  gentlewoman 
who  many  years  ago  fell  ill,  and  became  a  leper, 
and  no  man  could  heal  her.  At  last  an  old  man 
came  who  said,  '  If  she  can  have  a  bowlful  of  the 
blood  of  a  maid,  a  virgin  pure  in  heart  and  life, 
and  a  king's  daughter,  that  blood  will  be  her 
life,  if  she  anoint  her  with  it.'  This  is  why  the 
custom  was  made." 

Then  Sir  Perceval's  sister  said,  "  Fair  sirs,  I  see 
indeed  that  this  gentlewoman  will  die  if  I  give 
not  my  blood  to  her." 

"But  if  you  bleed  so  much  you  will  die,"  said 
Sir  Galahad. 

"Truly,"  said  Dindrane,  "but  if  I  die  I  heal 
her,  and  shall  get  my  soul's  health  and  great 
honor  for  my  lineage,  and  better  is  one  harm 
than  two.  Therefore  do  no  more  battle,  for  I 
will  yield  me  to  the  custom  of  the  castle." 


THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       187 

Then  they  heard  mass,  and  Sir  Perceval's  sister 
bade  them  bring  out  the  sick  lady,  and  truly  she 
was  in  a  sad  case.  Then  said  Dindrane,  "  Who 
shall  let  me  bleed  ?  "  One  came  and  bled  her  so 
much  that  the  bowl  was  full.  Then  the  fair  nun 
lifted  up  her  head  and  blessed  the  lady,  and  said : 
"  Madam,  I  have  come  to  my  death  to  make  you 
whole.  For  the  love  of  God,  pray  for  me."  So 
saying,  she  fell  down  in  a  swoon. 

Then  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Perceval  and  Sir  Bors 
tried  to  lift  her  up  and  stanch  the  blood,  but  she 
had  bled  so  much  that  she  could  not  live.  When 
she  had  roused  up  a  little,  she  said  :  "  Fair  brother, 
Sir  Perceval,  I  must  die  for  the  healing  of  this 
lady,  but  bury  me  not  in  this  country.  When  I 
am  dead  put  me  into  a  boat  at  the  next  haven  and 
let  me  set  sail  as  the  sea  and  the  winds  lead  me. 
When  you  reach  the  city  of  Sarras,  where  you 
shall  find  the  Holy  Grail,  you  will  find  me  there 
before  you.     Bury  me  there  in  the  Holy  Place." 

Sir  Perceval  granted  her  wishes,  weeping.  After 
she  had  taken  the  sacrament,  her  soul  departed  from 
her  body.  The  same  day  the  lady  who  was  anointed 
with  her  blood  was  healed. 

Then  Sir  Perceval  wrote  a  Jetter  of  all  Dindrane 
had  done  for  them  in  their  adventures,  and  laid  it 


188  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

in  her  hand.  They  laid  her  in  a  barge  and  covered 
it  with  silk;  and  the  wind  rose  and  drove  the 
barge  from  land,  and  all  the  knights  stood  watch- 
ing it  till  it  passed  out  of  their  sight. 

Then  there  fell  a  sudden  tempest  of  thunder, 
lightning,  and  rain,  and  the  castle  was  turned  half 
upside  down;  and  the  tempest  was  not  stayed 
till  evensong.  Then  they  heard  a  voice  saying, 
"This  vengeance  is  for  the  blood-sheddings  of 
maidens."  And  all  night  long  Sir  Galahad  and 
Sir  Perceval  and  Sir  Bors  said  prayers  in  a  little 
chapel ;  and  in  the  churchyard  they  found  forty 
fair  tombs  where  lay  the  bodies  of  all  the  fair 
dead,  kings'  daughters,  that  were  martyred  for  the 
sick  lady's  sake.  In  the  castle,  when  they  went 
to  it,  they  found  neither  man  nor  woman  left,  but 
they  had  all  died  by  the  vengeance  of  the  Lord. 


18.    THE   FINDING  OF   THE  GRAIL. 

Then  they  departed  and  went  into  a  forest. 
"Now,"  said  Sir  Perceval  to  Sir  Bors  and  Sir 
Galahad,  "  we  must  part,  and  I  pray  the  Lord  we 
may  meet  together  in  a  short  time."  They  took 
off  their  helmets  and  embraced  each  other. 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       189 

Then  these  three  pure  and  true  knights  rode 
throughout  the  land,  comforting  and  healing  and 
succoring  the  oppressed.  When  they  had  fulfilled 
all  the  adventures  prepared  for  them,  they  came 
together  again  without  knowing  that  they  should 
meet.  Their  way  led  them  one  by  one  to  the 
castle  of  Carbonec,  where  they  had  rest,  and  there 
appeared  to  them  as  they  prayed  in  the  chapel 
a  wondrous  vision. 

It  seemed  to  them  there  came  a  man  clothed 
like  a  bishop,  and  four  angels  bore  him  and  set 
him  before  a  silver  table  whereon  was  the  Holy 
Grail.  The  bishop  administered  the  holy  sacrament. 
Then  he  went  to  Sir  Galahad  and  kissed  him  and 
bade  him  go  and  kiss  his  fellow-knights ;  and  this 
he  did,  as  he  was  commanded. 

"  Now,"  said  the  bishop,  "  faithful  servants  of 
the  Lord,  ye  have  seen  and  eaten  of  His  most  holy 
mysteries,  and  once  again  shall  ye  behold  the  Holy 
Grail  in  the  city  of  Sarras  at  the  Holy  Place.  There- 
fore go,  and  bear  with  you  this  holy  vessel,  for  this 
night  shall  the  Holy  Grail  depart  from  the  realm. 
It  shall  never  more  be  seen  here,  for  it  is  not 
sought  after  nor  worshiped  aright  by  the  people 
of  this  land.  Go,  therefore,  to-morrow  to  the  sea, 
and  ye  shall  find  your  ship  ready.     Take  with  you 


190  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

the  sword  and  the  strange  girdle,  and  none  of  you 
shall  go  but  Sir  Galahad,  Sir  Perceval,  and  Sir  Bors. 
And  two  of  you  shall  die  in  the  land  of  your  desire, 
but  one  shall  come  again  to  tell  the  tidings.' '  Then 
he  gave  them  his  blessing  and  vanished. 

Sir  Galahad,  Sir  Perceval,  and  Sir  Bors  departed, 
and  they  rode  for  three  days  till  they  came  to  the 
strand  and  found  the  ship  of  which  they  had  heard. 
On  board  they  found  the  rich  table  of  silver  and 
the  Holy  Grail,  covered  with  a  cloth  of  crimson 
samite.  They  were  filled  with  joy  to  have  such 
holy  treasures  in  their  keeping ;  and  Sir  Galahad 
fell  to  praying  that  soon  he  should  pass  away  out 
of  this  world.  Then  a  voice  came  to  him,  saying, 
"  Sir  Galahad,  thou  shalt  have  thy  request ;  when 
thou  askest  the  death  of  thy  body,  thou  shalt  have 
it,  and  then  shalt  thou  find  the  life  of  thy  soul." 

Sir  Perceval  and  Sir  Bors  were  amazed  when 
they  saw  the  light  that  shone  from  his  counte- 
nance. And  they  took  Sir  Galahad  up  and  laid  him 
in  a  fair  bed  in  the  midst  of  the  ship.  There  he 
laid  him  down  and  slept  a  great  while,  and  when 
he  awaked  he  saw  before  him  the  city  of  Sarras. 

And  as  they  went  to  land,  they  saw  the  ship 
into  which  Sir  Perceval  had  put  his  sister. 

u  In  the  name  of  God,"  said  Sir  Perceval,  "  well 


THE   QUEST   OE   THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       191 

hath  my  sister  kept  her  covenant."  Then  they 
took  her  on  shore,  and  buried  her  as  richly  as  a 
king's  daughter  should  be  buried. 

The  king  of  that  city  was  a  tyrant,  and  he 
threw  them  into  a  deep  prison.  Then  the  Lord 
sent  to  them  the  Holy  Grail,  and  by  His  grace 
they  were  filled  with  food  and  meat  divine,  while 
they  were  in  that  prison.  At  the  end  of  a  year 
that  tyrant  fell  sick.  He  sent  for  the  three 
knights  ar\d  prayed  forgiveness  of  them  for  all 
his  wickedness,  and  then  he  died. 

As  the  elders  of  the  city  sat  in  council,  a  voice 
came  to  them,  saying,  "  Choose  the  youngest  of 
the  three  knights  and  he  shall  be  your  king." 
Then  Sir  Galahad  let  them  make  a  rich  covering 
of  gold  and  precious  stones,  with  which  he  covered 
the  silver  table  and  the  holy  vessel  wherein  the 
Grail  so  often  dwelt.  And  he  and  his  two  com- 
panions said  their  devotions  before  it  daily. 

When  another  year  had  passed,  one  morning 
early,  they  saw  kneeling  before  the  Grail  a  holy 
man  clothed  like  the  bishop,  and  a  great  company 
of  angels.  When  he  had  performed  the  service, 
he  came  to  Sir  Galahad,  and  said,  "  Come  forth, 
thou  servant  of  the  Lord,  and  see  what  thou  so 
much  desirest." 


192  HEKOES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

Then  Sir  Galahad  began  to  tremble  right  sore, 
and,  lifting  up  his  hands  to  heaven,  he  said,  "  Lord, 
I  thank  Thee,  for  now  I  see  that  which  hath  been 
my  desire  for  many  a  day.  Now,  blessed  Lord,  I 
would  live  here  on  earth  no  longer,  if  it  be  Thy 
will." 

When  he  had  said  these  words,  Sir  Galahad 
went  to  Sir  Perceval  and  kissed  him  and  com- 
mended him  to  God ;  and  he  went  to  Sir  Bors  and 
did  the  same.  Thereupon  he  kneeled,  before  the 
table,  praying,  and  suddenly  his  soul  departed  to 
his  Lord,  and  a  great  company  of  angels  bore  it 
up  to  heaven;  and  the  other  two  knights  saw 
them.  Then  they  saw  a  hand  come  down  from 
heaven,  and  it  came  to  where  the  Holy  Grail  was, 
and  took  it,  and  bore  it  up  to  heaven.  Since  that 
time  no  man  hath  ever  seen  the  Holy  Grail. 

When  Sir  Perceval  and  Sir  Bors  saw  that  Sir 
Galahad  was  dead,  they  made  bitter  sorrow.  If 
they  had  not  been  two  such  good  men,  they  might 
have  fallen  into  despair.  Sir  Perceval  went  into 
a  hermitage  outside  the  city,  and  Sir  Bors  kept 
always  with  him.  For  a  year  and  two  months 
Sir  Perceval  lived  a  life  of  prayer  and  fasting,  and 
then  passed  out  of  this  world.  Sir  Bors  buried  him 
by  his  sister  and  Sir  Galahad  in  the  Holy  Place. 


Sir  Galahad  kneeled  befoke  the  table,  praying. 


THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GRAIL.       195 

Then  Sir  Bors,  sorrowing  deeply,  departed  from 
Sarras,  and  armed  him,  and  came  to  the  sea  and 
entered  into  his  ship.  By  fair  winds  and  tranquil 
seas  he  came  to  the  realm  where  he  would  fain  be. 
And  when  he  was  come  to  land,  he  rode  fast  and 
came  to  Camelot  where  King  Arthur  was. 

Then  they  made  great  joy  for  him  at  the  court, 
for  all  had  thought  him  dead.  When  they  had 
feasted,  King  Arthur  sent  for  many  clerks,  and 
they  came  and  wrote  the  chronicle  of  the  high 
adventures  of  these  good  knights  and  of  the  holy 
nun  Dindrane,  and  of  the  finding  of  the  Holy 
Grail. 


III. 

THE    STORY    OF    ROLAND, 


III.    THE    STORY   OF    ROLAND. 


i.    ROLAND'S   YOUTH. 

CHAKLEMAGNE,1  son  of  Pepin2  of  France  and 
Bertha  the  gentle  and  courteous,  was  em- 
peror of  Germany  and  Rome ;  son  and  defender  of 
the  church  and  creator  of  the  twelve  peers. 

As  young  Chariot  and  an  exile  he  won  himself 
a  famous  name  among  the  Saracen  hosts ;  as 
Charles,  he  reconquered  his  realm  of  France  from 
the  traitors  who  had  poisoned  his  brave  father  and 
fair  mother;  and  finally  as  Charle  Magne,  which 
means  Charles  the  Great,  he  delivered  the  church 
of  Rome  from  the  pagans  and  was  crowned  em- 
peror by  a  grateful  pope.  He  continued  to  be  a 
warrior  all  his  life  long,  fighting  against  the 
Saracens,  the  Saxons,  and  all  the  heathen,  as  well 
as  subduing  and  holding  in  check  his  own  mighty 
barons. 

Charlemagne  had  a  sister,  Gilain 3  of  the  bright, 

1  Charlemagne  =  Char'-le-man.  2  Pepin  =  Pep'-in. 

3  Gilain  =  Zhi-lan'. 

199 


200  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

fair  face,  whom  he  had  hoped  to  marry  to  some 
great  king. 

But  she  loved  Milon  d'Auglant1  and  wished  to 
be  married  to  him.  Great  was  the  fury  of  the 
emperor  when  he  learned  this,  for  Milon  was  of 
lowly  birth  —  he  was  not  even  a  baron.  "  Thou 
shalt  never  be  married  to  such  a  man,"  he  cried. 
But  Gilain  declared  that  she  loved  Milon  and 
would  be  married  to  no  other,  were  he  baron  or 
king. 

So  that  they  might  get  their  own  way,  Milon 
led  his  bright  Gilain  far  from  the  court.  For  love 
of  him  she  wandered  at  his  side  through  wild,  dark 
forests,  and  slept  by  night  in  caves  or  in  little 
bowers  made  of  tree  branchc  s,  hidden  away  among 
the  bushes.  Wolves  and  bears  and  other  fierce 
animals  prowled  around  them  in  the  darkness,  and 
by  day  Milon  had  to  fight  bravely,  to  baffle  the 
wild  robbers  and  bandits  who  would  gladly  have 
carried  off  his  fair  bride  from  him. 

After  many  months  of  bitter  hardship,  they 
came  to  a  quiet  little  valley  on  the  borders  of 
beautiful  Italy.  The  green  grass  was  starred  with 
bright  flowers,  and  welling  up  between  the  stones 
was  a  clear,  bubbling  fountain  of  water  which  ran 

1  Milon  d'Auglant  =  Me-lon'-do-glon. 


THE   STORY  OF  ROLAND.  201 

away  in  a  murmuring  brook.  At  the  foot  of  the 
high,  wooded  cliffs  the  rocks  were  covered  with 
moss  which  made  a  soft  carpet  for  their  tired  feet. 
Here  Milon  thought  they  might  dwell  awhile  in 
safety.  He  built  a  spacious  bower  of  fragrant 
pine  branches,  twined  in  and  out  with  long 
grasses  and  flowers.  They  lived  on  the  flesh 
of  wild  deer  and  birds  that  Milon  killed,  and  on 
the  sweet,  fragrant  berries  that  grew  on  the  banks 
around. 

In  this  sunny  valley  the  hero  Eoland *  was  born 
to  them.  He  was  a  wonderful  boy,  for  when  only 
a  few  weeks  old  he  was  as  strong  and  big  as  most 
children  of  two  years.  When  his  mother  tried  to 
bind  his  limbs  in  the  usual  swaddling  bands,  he 
kicked  and  jumped  in  her  arms  so  sturdily  that 
she  was  obliged  to  leave  them  free.  Here  on  the 
soft  moss,  in  the  grass  among  the  flowers,  wading 
in  the  little  brook  or  climbing  the  rocks  and  trees, 
Roland  grew  to  be  a  fair,  strong  boy. 

When  Roland  was  four  years  old,  his  father 
took  him  to  school.  We  do  not  know  exactly  what 
he  learned  there,  but  he  made  such  marvelous 
progress  that  even  the  monks,  his  teachers,  were 
astonished.     He  soon  became  a  leader  among  his 

1  Roland  =  Ro'-land. 


202  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

companions,  and  formed  them  into  a  little  warrior 
band  which  he  drilled  and  disciplined  well  —  and 
all  men  marveled  at  his  courage  and  daring. 


2.    HOW    ROLAND   WON    THE    LOVE    OF    THE 
EMPEROR. 

Charlemagne,  the  proud  emperor,  was  returning 
from  Rome,  the  Eternal  City,  whence  he  had 
driven  the  wicked  pagans.  With  him  came  his 
great  army,  his  wise  councilors,  and  royal  barons. 
He  reached  Sutre,  where  young  Roland  now  lived 
with  Mil  on  and  Gilain.  Here  the  emperor  caused 
a  proclamation  to  be  made  by  his  heralds,  calling 
on  the  people  of  the  countryside  to  come  to  his 
court  and  bring  before  him  their  grievances,  prom- 
ising them  to  mete  out  justice  and  mercy,  and 
great  store  of  royal  gifts. 

Roland,  playing  with  his  young  companions, 
heard  the  heralds  crying  out  in  the  streets.  Tak- 
ing thirty  of  his  little  band  with  him,  he  straight- 
way hastened  to  the  court.  Boldly  he  went  up  the 
palace  steps  into  the  great  hall.  Charlemagne  and 
his  courtiers  wondered  when  they  saw  the  boys, 
but  received  them  with  all  courtesy,  and  led  them 


THE   STORY   OF   ROLAND.  203 

to  the  banqueting  hall,  offering  them  rich  food. 
Roland  ate  with  an  appetite  which  astonished 
them.  Then  he  put  together  in  a  heap  all  that 
he  could  carry  away. 

"  By  my  faith,  fair  son,"  broke  forth  Charle- 
magne, "why  do  you  take  that  which  was  not 
offered  to  you  ?      Have  you  not  eaten  enough  ?  " 

"  Yea,  I,"  answered  Roland,  "  but  not  my  father 
and  my  mother." 

Then  Charlemagne  called  for  a  white  cloth,  and 
in  it  he  put  a  great  pile  of  meat  and  bread,  saying, 
"  Here  is  for  your  father  and  mother."  Thanking 
the  emperor,  young  Roland  quietly  went  his  way, 
promising  to  return  on  the  morrow,  much  to  the 
amusement  of  them  all. 

When  the  boy  reached  home,  his  mother  ex- 
claimed, "  Whence  comes  that  which  you  bring  ?  " 

"  Sweet  mother,  from  a  great  and  mighty  lord." 

Gilain  was  frightened.  "Roland,  dear  son, 
return  not  to  that  mighty  lord !  He  may  work 
us  ill." 

The  next  day  off  went  Roland  again,  not  shar- 
ing his  mother's  fears.  The  emperor  and  his 
barons  made  much  of  him,  and  had  great  sport 
at  his  bright  sayings.  They  had  even  waited  for 
him  before  they  sat  down  to  table.     Roland  ate 


204  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

like  a  young  warrior,  not  of  fried  dishes  and  sweet 
pastry,  but  of  meat  and  bread. 

Naimes l  of  Bavaria,  the  emperor's  wisest  coun- 
cilor, gazed  curiously  at  the  lad.  His  brave,  frank 
bearing  struck  him.  uHe  has  the  eye  of  a  sea 
dragon  or  a  hawk,"  he  said  to  Charlemagne.  "  He 
is  a  boy  of  high  lineage ;  for  look  at  his  bold,  easy 
bearing,  his  straight,  slim  body,  his  haughty  head, 
with  the  eye  of  a  young  lion." 

After  the  meal  was  over  Charlemagne  again 
sent  the  boy  off  with  a  large  store  of  provisions ; 
but  when  he  reached  home,  his  mother  reproached 
him  for  having  disobeyed  her. 

Meanwhile  Charlemagne  had  commissioned 
Naimes  and  Thierry2  to  follow  Roland  and  find 
out  his  parents.  In  the  midst  of  Gilain's  re- 
proaches they  entered  the  poor  little  hut.  When 
Gilain  saw  these  mighty  barons,  she  was  filled  with 
terror.  Just  at  this  moment  Milon  came  home 
from  the  woods  with  a  heavy  load  on  his  shoulders. 
He,  too,  was  struck  with  fear  when  he  saw  the 
barons,  for  mighty  was  the  power  of  Charlemagne, 
and  furious  had  been  his  wrath. 

But  the  good  Naimes  told  them  that  all  would 
be  well,  that  for  the  sake  of  their  noble  son  they 

1  Naimes  =  Na-eem'.  2  Thierry  =  Tya-re'. 


THE   STOEY   OF  KOLAKD.  205 

should  come  to  Charlemagne.  Then  Thierry  pro- 
cured for  them  suitable  garments,  and  led  them  to 
his  great  master.  When  Charlemagne  saw  them, 
his  naming  anger  burst  forth  anew,  and  he  made  a 
gesture  as  if  he  would  slay  them  with  the  dagger 
that  happened  to  be  in  his  hand.  But  young 
Koland,  with  flashing  eyes,  made  one  spring  at 
him,  and,  seizing  his  hand,  held  it  in  such  a  mighty 
grip  that  the  blood  sprang  from  the  finger  tips. 

Charlemagne  laughed  aloud.  He  was  delighted 
with  this  young  lion,  and,  exclaiming,  "  This  will 
be  the  Falcon  of  Christendom ! "  he  made  him  sit 
beside  him  on  his  ivory  throne. 

Gilain  and  Milon  fell  at  his  feet,  asking  pardon 
for  their  flight.  Then  Charlemagne  raised  them, 
and,  throwing  his  arms  round  his  sister,  he  granted 
them  full  forgiveness. 

Meanwhile  Roland  was  growing  impatient,  and 
cast  his  eyes  around  to  see  if  the  tables  were  not 
set  ready  for  the  feasting.  The  emperor  laughed 
again,  and  invited  his  guests  to  follow  him  to  the 
banqueting  hall. 

Keeping  young  Roland  at  his  side,  he  drank  in 
foaming  beakers  to  their  future  happiness  and  to 
the  glory  of  their  son. 


206  HEROES   OE   CHIVALRY. 


3.    HOW  ROLAND   WON   HIS   KNIGHTHOOD. 

Easter  day  had  come,  and  the  proud  emperor 
was  holding  his  court.  Around  him  were  all  his 
great  lords,  kings,  princes,  dukes,  and  counts  from 
many  lands ;  but  nearest  of  all  to  the  throne  stood 
Naimes,  the  wise  councilor.  Suddenly  a  loud 
noise  was  heard,  and  into  the  courtyard  galloped 
a  champing  horse  richly  caparisoned,  mounted  by 
a  knight  in  gorgeous  apparel,  with  shining  eyes 
and  smiling  countenance.  It  was  the  Turkish 
ambassador.  Dismounting  from  his  horse,  he 
advanced  toward  the  emperor.  Then  his  eyes 
flashed  and  his  countenance  became  terrible,  and, 
in  a  loud  voice  that  all  could  hear,  he  hurled  defi- 
ance at  Charlemagne. 

"  Sire  !  "  he  cried,  "  listen  to  me  !  Three  great 
lands  there  are  which  I  can  name;  one  is  Asia,  the 
other  Europe,  and  the  third  Africa.  There  exists 
no  other.  My  royal  master  possesses  the  greatest 
of  the  three;  he  would  also  possess  the  others. 
Make  at  once  thy  submission;  for  Europe,  pay  hom- 
age, or  Eaumont  will  know  how  to  find  thee.  Nor 
land  nor  forests  nor  sea  can  save  thee,  unless,  in- 
deed, thou  canst  fly  away  like  a  bird  and  be  safe." 


THE    STORY  OF  ROLAND.  207 

Charlemagne  became  pale  with  wrath.  He 
started  up,  raging,  to  fall  on  the  ambassador,  but 
Naimes  the  wise  restrained  him.  So,  taking  coun- 
sel with  his  lords,  the  emperor  replied,  "  Say  to 
your  king,  in  four  months  he  shall  see  me.  My 
banner  shall  wave  before  the  walls  of  his  city,  and 
then  let  him  tremble." 

In  fiercely  burning  anger  and  feverish  impa- 
tience the  emperor  hastened  the  preparations  for 
the  war. 

Meanwhile,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  days, 
Roland  had  been  sent  with  some  other  well-born 
youths  to  learn  the  duties  of  knighthood  at  the 
castle  of  a  great  lord,  the  Archbishop  Turpin,  at 
Laon.  While  all  the  land  was  mustering  its  men 
for  the  war,  Roland  and  his  companions  were  dis- 
porting themselves  as  usual  at  the  palace  of  the 
archbishop.  Turpin,  however,  fearing  that  the 
hot  blood  of  young  Roland  might  lead  to  rash 
deeds  before  the  time  of  his  training  was  accom- 
plished, shut  him  and  his  fellows  up  in  his  dungeon 
keep.  There  they  should  stay  till  the  end  of  the 
war ;  well  treated,  of  course,  but  prisoners  !  Such 
was  the  command  of  the  emperor. 

Soon  the  great  army  marched  on  its  way  past 
the  castle  of  Laon.     The  boys  heard  the  tramp  of 


208  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

horses'  feet,  the  champing  of  bits,  the  clashing  of 
armor.  Then  the  clarions  and  trumpets  broke 
into  a  joyful  clamor,  mingled  with  the  cries  and 
shouts  of  the  eager  soldiery.  By  climbing  up 
to  the  narrow  window,  the  boys  could  see  the 
knights  passing  in  battle  array,  with  proud  mien 
and  flashing  eyes  and  stern,  set  faces,  hungry  for 
the  fierce  joy  of  fighting. 

Roland  and  his  comrades  listened  and  gazed 
with  beating  hearts.  "  Porter,  porter,  open  the 
gates !  "  Roland  cried.  "  Good  sir  !  let  us  go  play 
for  a  little  while  outside.  We  will  but  watch 
these  brave  warriors,  and  when  we  grow  up  and 
are  knights  ourselves,  by  my  faith,  we  will  make 
of  thee  a  knight  also !  " 

"  Ah !  peace,"  said  the  porter ;  t(  I  do  not  want 
to  be  a  knight.  What  has  he  to  do  but  fight? 
Here  I  get  good  pay;  I  would  sooner  sleep  and 
eat  in  peace.     I  will  not  let  you  out." 

The  boys  went  back,  crestfallen  and  angry. 
"Well  may  we  be  wroth,"  said  Roland.  "The 
emperor  goes  to  fight  the  Saracens,  and  we  must 
be  mewed  up  here  like  rats !  What  shall  we  do  ? 
We  will  go  to  that  porter ;  we  will  offer  him  all 
we  have,  even  to  our  cloaks,  but  if  he  will  not 
heed  us,  we  will  arm  ourselves  with  staves   and 


THE   STORY   OF  ROLAND.       .  209 

will  give  him  such  a  beating  that  he  will  want  for 
nothing  more." 

The  next  morning,  in  wild  impatience,  Roland 
carried  out  his  plan,  for  the  troops  had  already 
begun  to  leave  the  town.  The  cloaks  were  offered 
to  the  porter.  "  Ah !  let  us  go,"  said  Roland ; 
"we  will  soon  come  back;  we  only  want  to  see 
the  knights." 

"  You  will  stay  where  you  are,"  said  the  porter. 
"  Climb  upon  the  battlements,  and  you  can  see  all 
you  wish." 

Then,  "  Charge !  Charge ! "  cried  Roland. 
"  Strike,  barons,  strike ! "  he  shouted,  and  the 
five  boys  fell  on  the  porter  and  knocked  him 
senseless.  Leaving  him  lying  there,  they  rushed 
past  him  through  the  gate  and  away  out  into  the 
open  country. 

But  without  horses  and  arms,  what  were  they 
to  do  ?  Roland  could  have  cried  with  rage.  But 
see !  five  big  soldiers  on  their  horses  were  riding 
leisurely  along  the  road.  "  There !  "  said  Roland, 
"  we  must  take  their  horses."  The  boys  advanced, 
struck  the  men  stout  blows  with  their  heavy  staves 
till  they  fell  from  their  horses  —  then  up  and  away 
they  galloped,  leaving  the  soldiers  to  get  on  as 
best  they  could. 


210  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

The  poor  men  returned  to  their  lord  and  told 
of  their  misfortunes,  and  a  troop  of  soldiers  was 
sent  off  in  pursuit.  The  boys  were  overtaken 
and  seized,  but  when  they  were  brought  before 
the  commander,  he  recognized  them  at  once,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Ha !  friend  Roland,  is  it  thou  ? " 
And  they  all  burst  out  laughing,  except  the  poor 
soldiers  who  had  lost  their  horses. 

After  this  Roland  and  his  companions  were 
allowed  to  go  their  way  unmolested,  for  they 
were  careful  not  to  say  that  they  had  escaped 
from  the  porter's  care.  They  soon  reached  the 
advance  guard  of  the  army,  whom  they  found 
engaged  in  a  fierce  battle  with  the  van  of  the 
Saracen  host.  As  they  rode  up,  the  cry  was  sud- 
denly raised,  "The  emperor!  the  emperor!" 
and  Roland  rushed  on  to  find  Charlemagne  far 
in  advance  of  his  troops  and  surrounded  by  the 
enemy,  with  his  horse  killed  under  him. 

Most  conspicuous  among  the  foes,  and  fighting 
with  wild  courage,  was  Eaumont.1  Roland  singled 
him  out  in  an  instant,  and  hurled  himself  upon 
him  like  a  young  lion  on  its  prey.  Seizing  the 
terrible  sword  of  Eaumont,  Roland  dragged  it 
from  his  hands,  and,  with  a  furious  blow  of  the 

1  Eaumont  =  O-mong'. 


-          fit  \V 

fc 

■ 

4              >>^            ...-..-.  . 

:" 

' '" 

Roland  hurled  himself  upon  Eaumont.' 


THE   STORY   OF   KOLAND.  213 

hilt,  felled  the  brave  Saracen.  Turning  to  his 
uncle,  he  cried,  "  Uncle,  are  you  wounded  ?  "  and 
embraced  him  tenderly.  Naimes,  Ogier,1  Turpin, 
and  others  came  up  at  this  moment,  and  Charle- 
magne told  with  pride  the  exploit  of  his  nephew. 
With  his  own  hand  he  buckled  Eaumont's  famous 
sword,  Durandel,2  at  Roland's  side.  Naimes  and 
Ogier  each  buckled  on  him  a  golden  spur,  and  he 
was  speedily  dubbed  knight. 

After  a  pause  the  main  bodies  of  both  armies 
met  on  the  field,  and  the  battle  raged  fiercely  for 
many  hours.  Many  a  noble  knight  perished  in 
this  fight,  among  them  Roland's  dear  father, 
Milon.  The  Christians  were  the  victors,  and  the 
heathen  were  destroyed  with  great  slaughter. 

After  this  Charlemagne  remained  for  many 
years,  fighting  the  Saracens  in  their  own  land, 
with  the  aid  of  the  peers  of  France,  and  his 
dukes  and  barons.  The  tidings,  however,  of 
trouble  in  his  empire,  and  the  rebellion  of  some 
of  his  great  vassals,  recalled  him  to  Europe. 

1  Ogier  =  0-zhya\  2  Durandel  =  Du-ran-del'. 


214  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 


4.    ROLAND  WINS  A  FRIEND. 

One  of  these  powerful  vassals,  Gerard  de  Vienne,1 
thinking  himself  grossly  insulted  by  the  wife  of 
the  emperor,  in  a  violent  rage  called  to  him  all 
the  friends  he  could  muster,  and  with  their  aid 
drew  together  a  powerful  army  within  the  walls 
of  his  town.  Among  those  who  came  to  help 
him  was  his  brother,  Renier  de  Gene,2  who  had 
brought  with  him  his  son  Oliver,  and  his  daugh- 
ter, the  beautiful  Aude.3 

The  imperial  standards  were  planted  outside 
the  walls  of  the  rebellious  city,  which  was  closely 
invested.  The  siege  progressed  slowly,  as  was 
the  way  of  all  sieges.  The  besieged  often  made 
attacks  upon  their  enemy,  and  valiant  deeds  were 
done  on  both  sides.  Conspicuous  in  the  train  of 
the  proud  emperor  was  Roland  the  chivalrous, 
notable  for  his  youthful  and  manly  beauty. 

On  one  occasion  the  ladies,  who  in  those  wild 
days  were  frequently  witnesses  of  the  fighting, 
ventured  somewhat  too  far  from  the  walls  in 
their  eagerness  to  see  an  affray.     Roland  caught 

1  Gerard  de  Vienne  =  Zhe-rar'-de-Vi-an'. 
2  Renier  de  Gene  =  Re'-ne-a-de-zhan\  8  Aude  =  Od. 


THE   STORY   OF   ROLAND.  215 

sight  of  beautiful  Aude,  and  his  heart  stopped 
beating  for  one  wild  moment;  then  in  one  mad 
rush  he  flew  toward  her  in  an  attempt  to  carry 
her  oh0. 

But  her  brother  Oliver  was  on  his  guard,  and, 
like  a  lion  in  his  wrath,  gave  Roland  a  blow 
which  felled  him  to  the  earth  and  delivered  Aude 
the  beautiful  from  his  grasp.  She  stood  looking 
sadly  at  the  young  champion  who  had  been  struck 
in  her  defense.  Her  golden  hair  was  crowned  by 
a  chaplet  of  precious  gems.  Her  face  was  fair 
as  the  flowers  in  spring,  and  gracious  modesty 
tinted  her  cheeks  with  rosy  blushes.  Oliver,  vow- 
ing vengeance  on  Roland,  hurried  her  away  to 
the  safety  of  the  battlements. 

After  many  and  fierce  attempts  on  the  part 
of  the  besieged  to  break  up  the  circle  of  foes 
around  them,  when  provisions  and  water  were  at 
their  lowest  in  the  town,  Gerard  de  Vienne  at 
length  sued  for  peace.  It  was  decided  that  one 
last  encounter  should  take  place.  Roland  and 
Oliver,  the  champions  of  the  rival  armies,  should 
fight  a  duel  which  should  decide  the  fortune  of 
the  war. 

On  a  green  island  below  Vienne,  one  morning  at 
sunrise,  the  combatants  met.     From  the  high  bat- 


216  HEROES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

tlements  of  the  city,  beautiful  Aude,  with  many 
others,  overlooked  the  combat.  The  champions 
rode  into  the  lists,  the  horses  neighing  and  champ- 
ing their  bits  and  curveting  with  eagerness  for 
the  fray.  The  fighting  was  terrible.  At  the  first 
encounter  Roland  struck  such  a  blow  with  Duran- 
del  that  Oliver's  horse  was  cut  in  two.  Poor 
Aude  saw  it.  She  was  torn  with  conflicting  emo- 
tions, for  she  loved  her  brother,  and,  alas !  she 
loved  Roland,  too.  She  flew  to  a  little  chapel  on 
the  walls  and  prayed  for  pity  for  both  the  warring 
barons,  who  possessed  her  whole  affection. 

But  Oliver  was  not  discouraged.  On  foot  he 
paced  warily  around  Roland  on  horseback,  and 
at  last  he  saw  his  chance.  With  a  mighty  blow 
and  a  shout  of  joy  he  killed  the  horse  of  his  foe. 
The  champions  were  now  both  on  foot,  and 
their  furious  blows  caused  showers  of  sparks 
even  in  the  broad  daylight.  "Almighty  God, 
save  my  son ! "  cried  Oliver's  father  from  the 
walls.  "Blessed  Virgin!  preserve  Roland,  and 
I  will  make  him  king  of  France ! "  vowed  Char- 
lemagne. 

The  fight  went  on;  never  had  a  fiercer  one 
been  witnessed  in  all  the  days  of  chivalry.  All 
through   the   long  day  they   attacked  each  other 


THE   STOEY   OF  EOLAND.  217 

and  drew  off  breathless  to  gain  strength  for  fresh 
onslaughts.  Their  helmets  were  crushed  by  blows, 
their  breastplates  pierced  in  a  hundred  places,  and 
they  were  covered  with  blood  and  almost  blinded. 

Beautiful  Aude  returned  to  the  walls.  She  tore 
her  hair  and  uttered  piercing  cries.  "If  either 
dies,"  she  wailed,  "France  will  be  lost!  Why, 
why  must  there  be  such  a  fight  ?  There !  before 
my  very  eyes,  my  friend  whom  I  so  much  love, 
and  my  dear,  dear  brother,  are  killing  each  other. 
Ah !  whichever  is  vanquished,  I  shall  become 
mad!  Queen  of  Heaven,  oh,  have  mercy!  separate 
them !  "  and  she  fell  swooning  to  the  ground. 

In  one  more  desperate  effort,  although  he  could 
hardly  see,  Oliver  ran  on  Roland ;  but  the  force 
of  his  blow  broke  his  sword  off  short  at  the  hilt, 
and  he  was  left  weaponless  before  his  enemy.  He 
gazed  at  his  dead  horse,  at  his  broken  sword,  and 
thought  that  his  last  hour  had  come.  But  Roland 
cried,  "  Thinkest  thou  that  I  will  kill  an  unarmed 
man  ?  get  thee  another  good  sword,  and  call  for 
drink,  for  I  am  thirsty  !  "  Gerard  de  Vienne,  when 
he  heard  this,  sent  his  own  sword,  Flashing  Light, 
and  Oliver  offered  the  cup  to  Roland,  who  had 
thrown  himself  exhausted  on  the  ground.  Roland 
drank  deep  to  assuage  his  thirst  and  handed  the 


218  HEROES  OF  CHIVALRY. 

cup  back  to  Oliver ;  and  both  combatants  took  up 
their  stations  once  more.  The  furious  combat 
began  afresh.  Who  would  be  the  conqueror? 
The  two  champions  were  exactly  matched,  Flash- 
ing Light  and  Durandel  were  equally  celebrated. 

A  deep  silence  reigned.  Gerard  de  Vienne  and 
Charles  of  France  were  on  their  knees ;  beautiful 
Aude  had  swooned  in  sheer  terror.  Nothing  was 
heard  but  the  clashing  blows  and  labored  breath- 
ing of  the  combatants.  Suddenly  the  blows 
ceased.  "  Oliver,"  cried  Roland,  "  I  am  sick,  I 
would  rest ! " 

"Sleep,  sleep,"  cried  Oliver,  "and  I  will  kill 
thee  whilst  thou  sleepest." 

"  I  said  it  but  to  try  thee,"  said  Roland ;  "  I 
can  comfortably  fight  on  for  another  four  days." 

"Good,"  said  Oliver;  "begin  again." 

"We  will,"  replied  Roland,  and  they  fought 
on,  now  warily,  now  furiously,  but  neither  could 
gain  the  advantage.  Night  was  coming,  when 
suddenly  a  dark  cloud  separated  the  astonished 
combatants.  Sweet  and  clear,  a  voice  rang  out 
from  the  cloud  :  "  Great  warriors  cease  ;  God  wills 
that  you  should  end  this  strife.  Guard  your  cour- 
age and  your  strength  to  fight  against  the  Sara- 
cens, His  enemies,"  and  the  voice  was  still,  and 


THE   STORY   OF   ROLAND.  219 

the  cloud  vanished.  Roland  and  Oliver  let  fall 
their  swords.  In  the  fair  evening  light  they  went 
and  seated  themselves  beneath  a  tree,  and,  in 
obedience  to  what  they  believed  to  be  the  voice 
of  God,  they  swore  eternal  friendship. 

"  Before  four  days  are  over,"  said  Roland,  "  I 
will  reconcile  thee  with  the  great  emperor." 
"Thou  shalt  have  beautiful  Aude  for  thy  wife," 
replied  Oliver.  Over  and  over  again  they  cried 
to  each  other,  "I  love  thee  more  than  any  man 
alive."  They  disarmed,  fell  into  each  other's 
arms,  and  gave  each  other  the  kiss  of  peace, 
and  so  Roland  and  Oliver  began  their  famous 
friendship. 

Shortly  afterward  Charlemagne  was  solemnly 
reconciled  to  Gerard  de  Vienne,  and  preparations 
were  hastened  for  the  marriage  of  beautiful  Aude 
and  Roland.  Suddenly  a  fearful  cry  was  heard 
resounding  throughout  the  land,  "The  Saracens 
have  invaded  the  empire !  the  Saracens,  the  ter- 
rible Saracens ! "  Festivities  were  stopped  at 
once ;  the  armies  gathered,  and  once  more  the 
proud  emperor  led  his  victorious  hosts  against  the 
mortal  foes  of  the  Church  of  God. 


220        HEROES  OF  CHIVALRY. 


5.  HOW  FAIR  FRANCE  LOST  ROLAND. 

Charles  the  king,  the  proud  emperor,  had  been 
at  war  against  the  Saracens  in  Spain  for  seven 
years.  Nearly  all  the  castles  and  fortresses .  and 
walled  cities  had  been  demolished.  One  alone  still 
held  out,  the  city  of  Saragossa,1  the  ruler  of  which 
was  the  infidel  King  Marsile.2 

In  a  green  orchard  King  Marsile  sat  on  his 
marble  throne.  The  eyes  of  more  than  twenty 
thousand  of  his  warriors  and  councilors  were  upon 
him.  "Listen,  great  lords,"  said  he;  "Charle- 
magne, the  emperor  of  fair  France,  has  harried  our 
land ;  we  no  longer  have  any  army  strong  enough 
or  large  enough  to  do  him  battle.  I  ask  your 
counsel  —  how  may  we  preserve  ourselves  from 
dishonor  and  from  death  ?  " 

Then  up  rose  a  very  valiant  warrior,  one  of  the 
wisest  among  them  all.  "  Sire,"  he  said,  "  let  us 
not  fear.  Send  to  that  proud  and  boastful  emperor 
a  message;  promise  him  great  gifts,  and  say  to 
him,  '  Return  to  France,  to  Aix,8  and  at  the  Feast 
of  St.  Michael  we  will  follow  thee,  we  will  become 
thy  men,  we  will  become  Christians.'    Does  he  exact 

1  Saragossa  =  Sa-ra-gos'-sa.       2  Marsile  =  Mar'-sel.      8  Aix  =  Aks. 


THE   STORY  OF  KOLAKD.  221 

hostages,  twenty  or  thirty,  we  will  send  him  our 
sons.  I  will,  the  first,  send  mine,  even  though  he 
must  die ;  better  that  a  few  lose  their  lives  than 
that  we  lose  bright  Spain  the  beautiful,  and  that 
all  suffer  disaster  and  destruction." 

"  The  counsel  is  good,"  said  Marsile,  and  so  said 
the  rest.  Then  an  embassy  was  sent,  with  the 
wise  councilor  at  its  head,  to  the  camp  of  the 
Emperor  Charlemagne. 

The  proud  emperor  was  full  of  joy,  Cordova  had 
just  fallen  before  him  ;  he  could  take  his  ease.  In 
a  wide  meadow,  beneath  the  branches  of  a  pine, 
shaded  by  wild  eglantine,  the  golden  throne  was 
set,  and  on  it  was  seated  the  king  of  fair  France. 
His  long  beard  was  white  and  his  hair  powdered 
with  gray.  He  was  very  tall,  and  his  bearing  was 
proud  and  noble.  Around  him  his  courtiers  enter- 
tained themselves  with  various  pastimes;  some 
played  chess  and  other  games,  while  the  younger 
were  trying  their  skill  at  fencing.  Near  the  throne 
were  Roland,  Oliver,  and  the  twelve  peers. 

The  pagan  embassy  appeared,  and,  dismounting 
from  their  white  mules,  they  were  led  before  the 
emperor.  Having  received  his  permission  to 
address  him,  they  laid  before  him  their  king's  pro- 
posals.    They  spoke  of  vast  treasures  which  should 


222  HEEOES   OF  CHIVALRY. 

be  his  —  lions  and  bears,  and  tamed  hunting  leop- 
ards, seven  hundred  camels  richly  caparisoned,  four 
hundred  mules  laden  with  gold  and  silver,  fifty 
chariots  laden  with  riches,  and  thousands  of  golden 
coins,  wherewith  to  pay  his  great  army.  "Re- 
turn to  France,  to  Aix,"  they  said,  "  and  within  a 
month  our  master  will  follow  thee  and  become  thy 
vassal." 

The  emperor  pondered  awhile,  bade  the  ambassa- 
dors be  suitably  lodged,  and  then  held  a  council 
with  his  noble  barons.  He  recited  to  them  the 
terms  of  the  proposed  treaty  of  peace.  "Trust  him 
not,"  cried  most  of  the  barons,  and  Roland  urged 
a  continuance  of  the  war.  He  reminded  Charle- 
magne of  the  previous  treacheries  of  Marsile, 
maintaining  with  all  his  might  that  it  would  be 
folly  to  trust  him  further.  But  now  Ganelon1 
advanced,  always  on  the  side  of  peace,  as  Roland 
was  for  war.  Wise  Naimes,  too,  declared  himself 
for  peace,  and  most  of  the  barons  let  themselves  be 
persuaded,  for  they  longed  to  return  to  fair  France 
and  to  see  again  their  dear  wives  and  little  ones. 

"  My  barons,  whom  shall  I  send  as  my  ambassa- 
dor to  the  Saracen  who  reigns  at  Saragossa?"  asked 
Charlemagne. 

1  Ganelon  =  Ga'-ne-lon. 


THE   STORY   OF   ROLAND.  223 

"  I  will  go,"  said  Roland. 

"  Or  I,"  said  Oliver.     "  Roland  is  too  rash." 

"Be  silent,  both,"  cried  the  emperor;  "by  my 
beard,  not  one  of  yon  or  of  the  twelve  peers  shall  go." 

Then  the  Archbishop  Turpin  said,  "  Sire !  I  am 
the  one  to  send." 

"  Be  thou  also  silent,"  cried  the  emperor;  "speak 
no  more  till  I  command.  My  barons  shall  elect 
one  who  shall  be  my  messenger." 

"  Then  let  it  be  Ganelon,"  cried  Roland. 

"  He  will  accomplish  the  mission  well,"  cried  all 
the  rest. 

But  Ganelon  cried,  "  Fool,  thou  dost  wish  that 
I  should  perish !  Well,  be  it  so,  but  mark  me 
well  —  I  hate  thee  and  I  hate  Oliver  and  I  hate 
thy  friends  the  twelve  peers.  I  go,  but  I  shall 
perish.  Sire  !  I  commit  to  thy  care  my  young  son, 
for  I  shall  see  him  no  more." 

"  Fear  not,"  said  the  emperor,  u  my  barons 
have  chosen  thee,  and  thee  I  send.  Say  thou 
to  Marsile :  As  my  vassal  he  shall  have  the  half 
of  Spain,  the  rest  shall  be  for  Roland,  the  great 
baron.  .  But  if  he  plays  me  false  I  will  return, 
and  he  shall  end  his  life  in  sorrow  and  great 
shame."  Then  blessing  Ganelon,  Charlemagne 
delivered  to  him  his  staff  and  a  sealed  message. 


224  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

The  embassy  returned  to  Marsile,  and  Ganelon 
in  his  heart  planned  treason  to  Roland.  The 
French  army  should  depart,  but  Roland  should 
command  the  rear  guard,  and  the  Saracens  should 
destroy  him  —  such  was  his  traitorous  covenant 
with  Marsile. 

Then  Ganelon  returned  to  the  emperor,  bearing 
great  gifts.  u  Sire/'  he  cried,  "  behold  the  keys 
of  Saragossa,  twenty  hostages,  and  all  the  rich 
treasure ! " 

"It  is  well,"  said  Charlemagne;  "sound  the 
clarions,  the  war  is  ended.'' 

Then  joyfully  the  camp  was  raised  and  every- 
thing held  in  readiness  for  the  return  of  the  army 
to  fair  France.  During  the  night,  however,  the 
emperor  had  a  fearful  dream.  He  stood  in  the 
dark  denies  of  the  mountains,  his  good  staff  in 
his  hand ;  and  Ganelon  seized  the  staff  and  broke 
it  in  pieces,  whereat  all  the  pieces  flew  up  into  the 
sky  and  were  lost  to  the  emperor. 

In  the  early  dawn  Charlemagne  summoned  his 
barons.  "  Lords,"  he  cried,  "  behold  the  narrow 
passes,  the  dark  defiles.  Counsel  me,  who  shall 
command  the  rear  guard  ?  " 

"  Roland,"  cried  Ganelon ;  "  who  else  so  valiant 
as  he?" 


THE   STORY   OF   KOLAKD.  225 

" Roland, "  cried  the  barons;  "  who  so  valiant  as 
Roland?" 

The  emperor  was  filled  with  foreboding.  He 
turned  to  Roland,  saying,  "  I  will  leave  with  thee 
one  half  the  army  —  therein  lies  safety." 

"  May  I  perish  before  I  dishonor  my  race !  " 
cried  Roland.  "  Leave  me  twenty  thousand  French- 
men; forward  with  all  the  rest.  We  will  guard 
the  defiles,  or  we  will  perish."  Then  all  the  peers 
cried  with  one  voice,  "  We  will  stay  with  Roland," 
and  so  said  Count  Gautier  and  Turpin,  the  brave 
warrior  bishop. 

With  a  heavy  heart  Charlemagne  departed. 
He  left  twenty  thousand  Frenchmen  with  Roland, 
picked  men,  not  one  coward  among  them  all. 

Marsile  collected  all  his  army.  The  drums  beat 
and  the  trumpets  sounded  in  Saragossa.  They  set 
forth ;  they  sped  down  the  valley,  and,  marching 
through  the  night,  they  soon  caught  sight  of  Roland 
and  the  rear  guard  of  Charlemagne's  great  army. 

High  were  the  dark  mountains,  gloomy  the 
valleys,  black  the  rocks,  and  fearful  the  defiles  as 
the  rear  guard  prepared  to  defend  the  passes.  The 
night  went  by  in  safety,  the  morning  broke  clear, 
the  sun  shone  bright ;  a  thousand  clarions  sounded, 
the  horses  neighed,  and  the  tramp  of  many  feet 


226  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

shook  the  ground  !  "  What  do  I  hear  ?  "  cried 
Oliver.  "  Friend  Roland,  I  think  that  we  shall 
have  to  do  with  the  Saracens  !  "  He  mounted  on 
a  little  height  and  gazed  toward  Spain.  "  What 
sounds  I  hear!  what  shining  armor,  what  flashing 
helmets,  I  see !  "  Before  him  indeed  passed  all 
the  chivalry  of  Spain,  an  enormous  army,  winding 
through  the  valleys. 

"  We  are  betrayed,"  he  cried.  "  This  is  the 
work  of  Ganelon  !  Friend  Roland,  sound  thine 
horn;  the  emperor  will  still  hear,  and  he  will 
return  with  the  great  army,  and  our  rear  guard 
will  not  be  cut  to  pieces.' ' 

"  Never,"  cried  Roland,  "  shall  I  dishonor  fair 
France  and  my  own  great  race !  We  will  fight  the 
Saracens;  we  are  the  pick  of  the  whole  army. 
Sweet  it  will  be  to  die  for  France  and  the  great 
emperor." 

"Thou  art  mad,"  cried  Oliver.  "We  are 
twenty  thousand  men,  and  the  pagans  there  are 
at  least  a  hundred  thousand !  Roland,  sound  thy 
horn.     It  will  be  no  shame." 

"  Never,"  cried  Roland.  "  Rather  death  than  dis- 
honor. The  more  we  fight,  the  more  the  emperor 
will  love  us !  " 

Roland   was   chivalrous,  but  Oliver  was   wise. 


THE   STORY  OF  BOLAND.  227 

"  Friend  Roland,"  he  said  again,  "  thou  art  respon- 
sible for  our  twenty  thousand  French  ;  sound  thine 
horn  while  yet  there  is  time." 

"  Never,"  once  again  cried  Roland,  and  he  drew 
himself  up  and  glanced  round  among  his  men. 
"  Say  no  more,  friend  and  companion.  We  are 
here  with  twenty  thousand  heroes.  Strike  with 
thy  lance,  Oliver,  and  I  with  my  Durandel ;  and 
if  I  die,  they  will  cry,  '  This  was  the  sword  of  a 
brave  man  ! '  " 

They  formed  themselves  in  battle  array,  and  as 
the  Archbishop  Turpin  rode  along  the  lines  they 
fell  on  their  knees  to  receive  his  blessing.  "  The 
day  must  be  ours  !  "  he  cried. 

Alas !  the  day  was  theirs  —  but  at  what  cost ! 
Unheard  of  were  the  prodigies  of  valor  performed 
that  day.  Again  and  yet  again  the  brave  French 
came  to  close  quarters  with  the  foe,  and  the 
ground  was  heaped  with  slain.  The  Saracens 
seemed  countless.  On  and  on  they  came  in 
never  ceasing  hordes,  fresh,  with  prancing  horses, 
while  the  poor  Frenchmen,  covered  with  blood 
and  wounds,  weary  with  righting,  could  hardly 
lift  their  swords.  Nevertheless,  marvelous  was 
the  battle.  They  fought  on  and  on,  the  field 
was  covered  with  thousands  of  dead  and  wounded 


228  HEEOES   OF  CHIVALEY. 

men  in  heaps  and  piles,  one  on  the  other,  some  on 
their  faces  and  some  on  their  backs  —  and  at  last 
the  pagans  drew  off.  "  Accursed  be  this  day," 
they  said,  "  we  will  fight  no  more." 

Roland  and  Oliver  looked  around;  they  could 
hardly  see  who  of  theirs  remained  for  the  heaps 
of  dead  Saracens.  "  Oliver,"  cried  Roland,  "  shall 
I  sound  my  horn  ?     The  emperor  will  return." 

"  To  do  it  now  would  indeed  be  shame,"  replied 
Oliver.  "This  slaughter  is  thy  fault.  It  is  not 
brave  to  be  madly  rash ;  thou  wouldst  not  sound 
it  when  it  might  have  saved  the  army." 

Archbishop  Turpin  overheard  this  dispute  of  the 
two  captains.  "  Sir  Roland,"  he  said,  "  Sir  Oliver! 
brave  captains,  dispute  not.  If  Sir  Roland  sounds 
his  horn  now,  it  will  be  no  shame.  Charlemagne 
will  hear  it,  he  will  return,  but  only  to  avenge  our 
deaths — for  die  we  must — there  is  no  help  for  it!" 

"  Thou  sayest  well,"  said  Roland. 

Roland  was  in  great  anguish,  for  he  was  covered 
with  wounds,  but  with  a  terrible  effort  he  sounded 
his  ivory  horn.  The  echo  reached  the  great  army. 
"  Listen,"  cried  the  emperor.  "  Our  rear  guard  is 
attacked." 

"  Should  any  one  else  say  so,  he  would  be 
deemed  a  liar,"  cried  Ganelon. 


Roland's  Tower. 

According  to  a  legend,  this  tower  was  built  by  Eoland. 


**H  :i: 


THE    STORY    OF    ROLAND.  231 

Once  again  the  distant  sound  was  heard.  "  Hark," 
cried  Naimes,  "  it  is  true  !  Our  men  are  fighting ; 
Roland  would  not  sound  the  horn  else." 

" Nonsense,"  said  Ganelon,  "I  have  known  that 
bragging  Roland  to  ride  about  all  day  sounding 
his  horn  for  nothing." 

Once  again  in  mortal  anguish  Roland  raised  his 
horn  to  his  lips.  He  blew  a  mighty  blast,  but  the 
veins  of  his  temples  burst,  and  he  almost  swooned 
with  the  agony.  Again  faint  sounds  reached 
Charlemagne.  "  By  our  Lady,"  cried  the  emperor, 
"Roland  is  in  trouble.  Sound  the  trumpets, 
let  the  army  return.  Ganelon,  that  traitor,  has 
played  us  false ! "  Alas,  the  mountains  are  so 
high,  the  valley  so  deep,  the  passes  so  precipitous, 
the  army  is  mad  with  rage  and  anguish !  Pray 
God  they  be  not  too  late  to  succor  Roland  and 
the  peers ! 

Roland  gazed  wildly  around.  Only  a  few 
French  remained.  "  Friend  Oliver,  the  fault  is 
mine,  but  we  will  die  fighting  fcr  fair  France,"  he 
said.  "We  will  fight!"  reechoed  the  brave  sur- 
vivors. 

Once  again  the  fighting  began.  The  Saracen 
leaders  had  managed  to  rally  their  men  —  alas, 
their  numbers  seemed  endless !     But  all  his  rage 


232  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

returned  to  Roland.  Oliver  fought  like  a  giant, 
and  great  Turpin  was  not  behind  in  the  press. 
Their  path  was  strewn  with  heaps  of  fresh  slain. 
But  alas  !  what  could  it  avail  them  ?  —  before  the 
great  army  could  return  they  would  all  be  slain. 
Once  again  the  Saracens  were  put  to  flight !  "  These 
French  are  devils  and  not  men/'  they  cried. 

Oliver  was  wounded  to  the  death.  He  staggered 
about  the  field,  he  could  see  no  longer,  the  stream- 
ing blood  blinded  him.  He  waved  his  shining 
sword.  "  Roland,  Roland,  farewell,  my  friend, 
farewell !  "  he  cried,  with  a  high  voice  and  clear. 

Roland  rushed  up ;  he  looked  at  him.  "  My 
God,  what  can  I  do?  Fair  France,  thou  art 
confounded  this  day,  widowed  of  thy  bravest 
knights,  thy  best  soldiers.  Alas,  for  the  sorrow  of 
the  emperor ! "  When  he  saw  Oliver  fall  dead 
before  him,  Roland  could  no  longer  restrain  his 
cries  and  his  sobs.  He  swooned  again  from 
sorrow. 

When  Roland  recovered  his  senses,  he  saw  and 
realized  the  greatness  of  the  disaster.  The  peers 
were  all  dead,  Turpin  was  dead,  Oliver  was  dead, 
he  alone  remained  in  the  field,  wounded,  himself,  to 
the  death.  "  Ah  me  !  for  fair  France  !  "  he  cried. 
He   felt  the  death  throes   on  him.      He   slowly 


THE   STORY  OF  EOLAND.  233 

dragged  himself  along  —  he  staggered  to  a  little 
eminence,  and  there  again  he  fainted.  After  a 
while  he  came  to  himself,  sat  up,  and,  taking 
Durandel,  his  dear  sword,  he  kissed  it.  "  Never," 
he  murmured,  "  shall  a  pagan  have  thee." 

He  staggered  slowly  to  his  feet  once  more. 
Death  was  very  near,  but  he  found  a  rock,  and,  tak- 
ing Durandel  in  his  hands,  he  tried  to  smash  the 
blade  against  the  flint.  But  Durandel  was  not 
made  of  metal  that  could  be  broken.  Three  times 
he  tried,  but  the  sword  was  scarcely  dented.  Ex- 
hausted, he  sank  down  again  on  the  grass.  He 
murmured  loving  words  to  his  dear  sword  :  "  My 
Durandel,  thou  art  beautiful  and  holy.  How  many 
lands  through  thee  I  have  conquered  for  my  glori- 
ous emperor,  Charles  of  the  white  beard !  Never, 
never  mayst  thou  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  coward!  " 

He  took  Durandel  and  his  ivory  horn,  and  with 
great  effort  he  laid  himself  over  them ;  he  turned 
his  face  toward  his  vanquished  enemies,  toward 
Spain,  whither  they  were  flying. 

He  crossed  his  hands,  he  prayed  for  forgiveness 
for  his  sins,  and  then  he  thought  on  many  things : 
of  fair  France,  of  his  beloved  ones  whom  he  might 
never  see  more,  of  Charlemagne,  his  dear  lord. 

He  held  up  his  gauntlet  .to   the  sky.     "  Great 


234  HEROES   OF   CHIVALRY. 

God,  thou  who  broughtest  Lazarus  back  to  life,  and 
defended  Daniel  in  the  lion's  den,  save,  oh,  save 
my  soul  and  defend  it  from  all  perils,  and  forgive 
the  sins  I  have  committed  in  my  lifetime."  Slowly 
his  head  sank  down  upon  the  ground,  and,  with 
hands  reverently  clasped,  he  met  his  end.  Roland, 
the  great  captain,  the  chivalrous,  the  brave,  was 
dead. 

Terrible  indeed  was  the  grief  of  the  great  army 
when  at  last  it  reached  the  valley.  Not  a  road, 
not  even  a  little  pathway,  not  a  clear  space,  not  a 
yard  nor  even  a  foot  of  ground,  but  was  piled  high 
with  dead  bodies  of  Frenchmen  or  of  Saracens. 
The  proud  emperor  tore  his  white  beard  in  rage 
and  horror,  and  twenty  thousand  Frenchmen 
mourned,  for  all  had  lost  sons,  nephews,  brothers, 
friends,  or  lords.  "Vengeance,  vengeance,  a  ter- 
rible revenge !  "  they  all  cried.  The  dust  was  still 
visible  as  it  rose  in  clouds  from  the  flying  feet  of 
the  Saracens.  The  dead  were  left  lying  where 
they  had  fallen ;  the  whole  army  started  in  hot 
pursuit.  The  fugitives  were  overtaken  and  a 
veritable  massacre  followed.  Those  who  were  not 
killed  on  land  were  driven  into  the  rivers  and 
drowned.     Roland  was  indeed  avenged. 

Sadly  the   old  emperor,  with  the  remainder  of 


THE   STORY   OF   ROLAND.  235 

his  army,  returned  to  fair  France.  With  them 
they  brought  the  bodies  of  the  principal  heroes,  to 
be  buried  in  the  cathedrals  of  France.  The  rest  of 
the  gallant  twenty  thousand  they  had  buried  in  the 
valley  where  they  had  fallen. 

The  great  emperor  sat  in  his  great  hall,  consumed 
with  grief,  when  a  fair  woman  entered.  "  Great 
emperor,  where  is  Roland,  the  noble  captain  who 
swore  to  make  me  his  wife  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Sister,  sweet  friend,  thou  askest  me  the  tidings 
of  a  dead  man.  Much  I  grieve  for  thee  and  me. 
Wilt  thou  marry  mine  own  dear  son,  Louis,  heir 
now  to  all  my  empire  ?  What  can  I  offer  thee 
more  : 

"  I  pray  to  God,  to  all  his  saints  and  his  angels, 
that  since  Roland  is  dead,  I  may  live  no  longer ! " 
As  she  said  this,  the  color  fled  from  her  cheeks  and 
she  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  emperor.  Tenderly  he 
lifted  her  up  and  laid  her  on  a  couch,  and  he  sent 
for  his  physicians  that  they  might  raise  her  up,  for 
he  thought  she  had  swooned.  But  she  never  rose 
up  again  —  God  had  answered  her  prayer.  Beauti- 
ful Aude  was  dead. 

The  traitor  Ganelon  met  with  his  deserts  —  he 
was  condemned  to  a  dreadful  death. 


PRONUNCIATION   OF  PROPER  NAMES. 


KEY  TO  PRONUNCIATION. 


a  as  in  fat,  man,  pang, 
a  as  in  fate,  mane,  dale. 
a  as  in  far,  father,  guard, 
e  as  in  met,  pen,  bless, 
e  as  in  mete,  meet,  meat, 
e  as  in  her,  fern,  heard, 
i  as  in  pin,  it,  biscuit, 
i  as  in  pine,  fight,  file, 
o  as  in  not,  frog,  on. 
6  as  in  note,  poke,  floor. 
6  as  in  nor,  song,  off. 
u  as  in  tub,  son,  blood, 
u  as  in  mute,  acute,  few. 
ii,  German  ii,  French  u. 
oi  as  in  oil,  joint,  boy. 

A  single  dot  under  a  vowel  in  an  unac- 
ented  syllable  indicates  its  abbreviation 
ard  lightening,  without  absolute  loss  of 
its  distinctive  quality.    Thus: 


a  as  in  prelate,  courage, 
e  as  in  ablegate,  episcopal, 
o  as  in  abrogate,  eulogy. 

A  double  dot  under  a  vowel  in  an  unac- 
cented syllable  indicates  that,  even  in  the 
mouths  of  the  best  speakers,  its  sound  is 
variable  to,  and  in  ordinary  utterance  actu- 
ally becomes  the  short  w-sound  (of  but, 
pure,  etc.).    Thus: 

a  as  in  errant,  republican, 
o  as  in  valor,  actor,  idiot. 
a  as  in  Persia,  peninsula. 

n,  French  nasalizing  n,  as  in  ton,  en. 

'  denotes  a  primary,  "  a  secondary  ac- 
cent. (A  secondary  accent  is  not  marked 
if  at  its  regular  interval  of  two  syllables 
from  the  primary  or  from  another  second- 
ary.) 


Aix  =  Xks 

Alain  li  Gros  =  Xlan'-le-gro 
Arimathea  =  Ar"-i-ma-the'-a 
Aristole  =  Ar'-is-tol 
Aude  =  Od 

Bagdemagus  =  Bag-de'-ma-gus 
Bedingran  =  Bed'-ing-ran 
Benoic  =  Be-no' -ik 
Bondwine  =s  Bond'-win 
liors  =  Bors 
Brastias  =  Bras'-ti-as 
Bretel  =  Bre'-tel 


Camelot  =  Cam'-e-lot 
Canterbury  =  Kan'-ter-ber-i 
Carados  =  K'ar'-a-dos 
Cardoil  =  K'ar'-doil 
Carleon  =  KaV-le-on 
Carmelhide  =  Kar'-mel-hld 
Charlemagne  =  Char'-le-man 
Cleodalis  =  Kle-o'-da-lis 

Daneblaise  =  Dan'-e-blaz 
Dindrane  =  Din'-dran 
Durandel  =  Dii-ran-del' 


237 


238    PRONUNCIATION   OF  PROPER  NAMES. 


Eaumont  =  O-mong' 
Ector  =  Ek'-tor 
Elaine  =  E-lan' 
Excalibur  =  Eks-kal'-i-ber 

Gaheris  =  Ga'-her-is 

Galahad  =  Gal'-a-had 

Ganelon  =  G'a'-ne-lon 

Garloth  =  Gar'-loth 

Gareth  =  Ga'-reth 

Gawain  =  G'a-wan' 

Gilain  =  ZhI-lan' 

Gerard  de  Vienne  =  Zhe-rar'-de- 

Vi-an' 
Guinevere  =  Gwin'-e-ver 

Joseus  =  Jo'-se-us 

Kay  =  Ka 

Lancelot  =  Lon'-se-lot 
Leodgrance  =  Le-od'-grans 
Lionel  =  Li'-o-nel 
Lothian  =  Lo'-thi-an 
Lucan  =  Lu'-kan 
Lyonesse  =  Ll-o-nes' 

Marsile  =  M'ar'-sel 
Milon  d'Auglant  =  Me-lon'-do'- 
glon 


Naimes  =  Na-eem' 
Neutres  =  Nu'-tr 

Ogier  =  O-zhya' 
Orkney  =  Ork'-ni 

Pelles  =  Pel'-lez 
Pepin  =  Pep'-in 
Perceval  =  Per'-se-val 

Renier    de    Gene  =  Re'-ne-a-de 

zhan' 
Rions  =  Ry'-ons 
Roland  =  Ro'-land 

Saragossa  =  S'a-r'a-gos'-sa 

Thierry  =  Tya-re' 
Turquin  =  Tur'-kwin 

Ulphius  =  Ul'-fi-as 
Urience  =  U'-ri-ens 
Uther  Pendragon  =  U'-ther-Pen 
dra-gon 

Yglais  =  Ig'-las 


YB  37124 


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